Malaria, no doubt, remains a significant public health and development challenge in Africa. Scientists have submitted that an invasive species of malaria-carrying mosquito from Asia has spread to Africa, particularly Djibouti and Ethiopia.
They say if it spreads widely in Africa it could put nearly 130 million people at risk.
According to WHO research, Africa remains as the world’s epicenter of malaria and malaria-related deaths. Approximately 602,000 people died from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa alone in 2020.
Also, the 2021 World Malaria Report reveals that six countries from sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 55% of all cases globally, namely, Nigeria (27%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), Mozambique (4%), Angola (3.4%), and Burkina Faso (3.4%).
But the Anopheles stephensi species of mosquito, which is responsible for most of the cases seen in Indian and Iranian cities, breeds in urban water supplies – and is resistant to most insecticides in common use.
The mosquito has already caused cases in Djibouti and Ethiopia to rise, seriously complicating efforts to eradicate the disease. According to the 2021 World Malaria Report: Nearly half the world’s population lives in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 87 countries and territories. In 2020, malaria caused an estimated 241 million clinical episodes, and 627,000 deaths. An estimated 95% of deaths in 2020 were in the WHO African Region.
