Environmental scientists have issued a warning after urban cities in Africa that were previously unaffected by malaria saw a proliferation of the disease in recent years.
Although malaria-carrying mosquitos are usually associated with rural areas where there are lots of fresh water sources, a new species, named Anopheles stephensi, which is native to Asia, has started to appear in major cities across the continent.
This has got scientists really worried.
“The challenge relates to a new species invading an area in which most people have never been exposed to malaria,” says Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, a scientist at Emory University. “And that could lead to severe outbreaks and transmission. You know, epidemic malaria.”
According to Vazquez-Prokopec’s research which was published in the Lancet Planetary Health, the arrival of these urban mosquitos could be driven by the amount of construction sites that are popping up all over these rapidly-urbanising cities.
This is providing hope, as understanding how and why these mosquitoes are gaining such a foothold should make it easier to start eradicating them.
One example of a city that’s seen massive expansion in recent years is Jigjiga in Ethiopia. In just a few years it’s gone from being a relatively rural garrison town to a vast regional capital city.
“I came here in 2007,” says Solomon Yared, who’s a medical entomologist at Jigjiga University. “It was a very small town. But now, many people are coming to Jigjiga. Construction is booming.”
According to research carried out in Jigjiga, the construction sites dotted about throughout the city create many places for rain water to accumulate. This gives the mosquitos somewhere to lay their eggs.
Likewise, cement cisterns and pools of standing water were found to contain mosquito larvae, which explains how the insects are thieving even in the dry season.
According to Vazquez-Prokopec’s paper, a great way to target the mosquitos is by adding chemicals to the water during the dry season, as well as adding some fish that feed on the larvae.
“Given the water source and use, long duration of construction pits, and constant availability of water, a biological control option that can be considered is the use of larvivorous fish.
Fish that feed on mosquito larvae have been widely used around the world in attempts to control malaria, other mosquito-borne diseases, and mosquito nuisance biting and could be used in this case as a textbook example.
“Furthermore, LSM in Jigjiga could include both larviciding and larvivorous fish if larvicides with low toxicity (Spinosad, metoprene, or pyriproxyfen) are chosen.”
Protecting Yourself Against Malaria
The revelation that previously unaffected areas are now hotspots for malaria make it all the more important to get yourself protected if you’re travelling to one of these countries.
Antimalarial medication can do just that, by fighting the disease and preventing the multiplication and spread of the parasite within the body. Although these medications don’t prevent malaria from entering the body, they do stop the disease in its tracks and ensure no symptoms occur.
The exact medication you’ll need will depend on the destination you’re travelling to. In some regions the strains of malaria are resistant to certain medications so the type of antimalarial you should take is dependent on where you’re going.
For instance, in some countries malaria is resistant to the drug chloroquine, so if you were travelling to one of these places then you’d need to take a different medication.
This makes it important to speak to a medical professional before opting for the first anti-malarial you see. That way you know you’re properly protected. You should also discuss with them what you’ve learned in this article as it’s becoming clear that people are at risk in places that were previously thought to be malaria-free zones.
We offer a number of malaria tablets in our pharmacies so if you’re looking for some advice then speak to one of our experts today who will be able to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Researchers have identified malaria-carrying mosquitoes that are adapting to urban environments, where standing water, population growth and changing climates can create favourable breeding conditions. This may increase the risk of malaria transmission in cities that were previously considered lower risk.
It may. Travellers should check the latest malaria advice for their destination, as risk can vary between countries, regions and even urban areas. A travel health consultation can determine whether antimalarial tablets are recommended for your itinerary.
The best protection combines prescribed antimalarial medication with effective mosquito bite prevention. Use an insect repellent containing DEET, wear long-sleeved clothing after dusk, sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets where appropriate and stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation whenever possible.