How is Climate Change affecting Malaria patterns?

Global climate change has been a rising concern in the past few decades. Changes in weather patterns and temperature are the result of human actions, like the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation. Especially with the increasing threat of greenhouse gas emissions that trap the sun’s heat, increasing the planet’s temperature.

These environmental changes may significantly affect the life cycles of mosquitoes, which may have an impact on the spread and transmission of the malaria disease. Several tropical and subtropical parts of the world have long struggled with the fatal vector-borne disease of malaria, which is carried by mosquitoes. This is because cold-blooded creatures like mosquitoes thrive well in hot and humid conditions. Since global temperatures have been increasing, there has been an increase in mosquito populations as well. Moreover, hot weather shortens the reproductive cycle of mosquitoes, which also leads to sharp increases in their population.

Rainfall is another factor that affects the patterns of malaria because rainfall leads to more bodies of standing water that serve as breeding habitats for mosquitoes. West Africa has experienced major floods in the last 50 years, which have not only caused damage to human settlements but also increased the distribution of mosquitos. Furthermore, variations in humidity, wind patterns, and surface temperatures are other aspects of climate change that impact malaria patterns by changing water availability and temperature cycles. Strong winds can also help mosquitoes spread across large distances, increasing the risk of malaria transmission in new locations. In 2020, an estimated 627,000 people died of malaria, most of which were young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria death rates are especially high in young children and pregnant women due to their lack of immunity.

In conclusion, as a result of its effects on the mosquito’s life cycle, survival, breeding, and transmission, climate change has a considerable impact on the patterns of malaria sickness. It is critical to understand that climate change, along with its impact on world health, creates pressing issues that need a swift and concerted response.