-Advocate Investment in Climate-Resilient Future
Experts in malaria research have warned African governments about the surge in mosquito-borne infections, fuelled by extreme climate conditions. They stated that these conditions pose a significant threat to the continent’s public health systems if adequate measures are not taken to mitigate the effects.
The African scientists, who identified malaria, dengue, and yellow fever as the major mosquito-borne diseases, noted that the global community records 200 million malaria cases and 600,000 deaths annually, with African children and pregnant women accounting for most of these fatalities. Meanwhile, dengue fever has seen a dramatic rise, with cases increasing by 6 million from 2000 to 2023, as climate change is exacerbating pressure on public health.
Speaking during a virtual symposium on Monday, in a virtual forum in commemoration of the 2024 World Mosquito Day, Dr Phillip Chigiya, a medical doctor and secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Youth Advisory Council (AYAC), emphasised the differences between malaria and dengue fever. Despite being transmitted by female mosquitoes, the two diseases are often misdiagnosed due to their different pathogens.
Dr Chigiya explained, “Dengue and malaria are two very different diseases caused by different pathogens and different mosquito species. Aedes mosquitoes transmit dengue, while Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria. Misdiagnosis between malaria and dengue is common and contributes to the prevalence of co-infection.”
Chigiya, who is also the secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), highlighted the challenges encountered in efforts to eliminate mosquitoes, which range from rising temperatures and gene mutations to resistance to insecticides. He stressed the need for investment in a climate-resilient future.
To curb the spread of disease-causing mosquitoes, he stated that enhanced environmental hygiene, universal access to treated nets, and research into the mutation patterns of mosquitoes would be required.
In advocating for a reduced disease burden in Africa, Dr Chigiya urged governments to invest in climate resilience by strengthening health systems, improving adaptation strategies, integrating climate and health policies, engaging with communities, and promoting education, among other measures.
Demystifying the differences between the two mosquito-borne infections, Dr Charles Guissou, a public health physician, noted that dengue infections are caused by four closely related viruses—DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. In contrast, malaria is caused by five Plasmodium parasite species, with P. falciparum and P. vivax posing the greatest threat. He emphasised that P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent in Africa.
Guissou, who is also the co-principal investigator for Target Malaria Burkina Faso (Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé), listed the symptoms of dengue fever as high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash, affecting infants, young children, and adults. He noted that dengue often requires hospitalisation, with recovery typically taking one to two weeks. In contrast, malaria symptoms begin within 10–15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms range from mild to life-threatening and include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
For treatment, Dr Guissou stated that while there is no specific treatment for dengue, appropriate medical care can frequently save the lives of patients with severe dengue. Early detection and proper medical care reduce fatality rates to below one percent. On the contrary, he noted that malaria has treatment options, with antimalarial drugs being administered after confirmation of the disease through WHO-recommended parasite-based diagnostic testing.
