New Delhi. On World Malaria Day on Thursday, experts said that climate plays an important role in changing the transmission pattern of malaria. World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on 25 April to spread awareness about the mosquito-borne disease. This year’s theme is to intensify the fight against malaria around the world. Many people globally do not have access to quality, timely treatment and affordable services to detect and treat malaria.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria will kill an estimated 608,000 people worldwide in 2022 and cause 249 million new cases.
A 2022 Lancet study on malaria found that increased temperatures could cause malaria parasites to evolve faster and therefore increase malaria transmission and burden. Even an increase of just 2-3 degrees Celsius could lead to a 5 percent increase in the population vulnerable to disease, equivalent to more than 700 million people.
Dr Manish Mittal, consultant physician at Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Vadodara, told IANS that climate change plays an important role in altering the transmission pattern of malaria, especially during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons from June to November. Rain causes waterlogging, which becomes a breeding ground for female Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry malaria parasites. In such a situation, malaria cases increase due to the breeding of mosquitoes in this stagnant water.
He said that early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to reduce the effects of malaria. There has been an increase in awareness among people about this, which has made people aware to be serious about the symptoms of fever and get blood tests done.
In a new study, researchers at the University of Florida show that various mosquitoes and parasites exhibit intermittent relationships with temperature and, under future rising temperatures, transmission efficiency is likely to increase in some environments.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, also suggests that parasites may develop more rapidly at colder temperatures and that the rate of parasite development may be less sensitive to changes in temperature than previously thought.
Dr. Rajiv Boudhankar, Medical Director, Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, told IANS that as a primary solution to this problem, the stagnant water at construction sites and other places should be cleaned immediately. Additionally, things like utensils and old tires should be removed, as well as covering oneself while traveling.
Dr. Manish has advised people to use mosquito repellent medicines and mosquito nets for personal safety.