Mosquito resistance to insecticides in Africa is leading to a new threat to malaria control efforts.
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Kenyan researchers have detected a mosquito, native to South Asia, that is resistant to insecticides used in Africa, raising concerns about the impact on malaria control efforts on the continent. Experts from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) identified it.
Anopheles stephensi was found during routine surveillance in northern Marsabit County. This invasive mosquito can thrive in both dry and rainy seasons and can breed anywhere, making it a major concern for public health officials.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles. It is one of the top killers of children under five years old in Africa, where an estimated 94% of malaria cases and deaths occur.
Malaria transmission in Africa is seasonal, with most cases occurring during and after the rainy season.
However, the detection of the anopheles genus mosquito in Kenya could change this pattern, leading to continuous year-round transmission of the disease.
Malaria Control takes a hit in Kenya due to Anopheles Stephensi
Data from hospitals in Marsabit county shows an increase in malaria cases, even though it was not the normal season for the disease. Local mosquitoes don’t do well in dry areas, and the increase in cases could be attributed to the presence of resistant anopheles.
“Unfortunately, this detection in Kenya may translate to higher malaria transmission in urban and peri-urban settings in the country and could reverse gains made in the fight against malaria,” said Kemri’s director-general, Dr. Samuel Kariuki.
Anopheles stephensi was first detected in Djibouti 10 years ago and has since spread to Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria. In other countries, its larvae have been found in water containers in urban centers, raising concerns that they could become a major threat in African cities as well.
Experts fear that the resistance of the insect to commonly used insecticides could lead to a significant increase in malaria cases, which could, in turn, lead to increased deaths and economic losses.
To prevent the spread of the resistant mosquito, researchers are urging Kenyans to use available malaria control tools such as sleeping under treated bed nets, using repellents, and wearing long-sleeved clothing to prevent bites from it.
Public health officials are also calling for the development and implementation of new insecticides that are effective against Anopheles stephensi.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the spread of insecticide-resistant anopheles is a significant threat to malaria control efforts and could undermine progress made in recent years.
Malaria control efforts in Africa have made significant progress in recent years, with a 27% reduction in malaria cases reported between 2010 and 2019. However, the detection of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya could reverse these gains, leading to a resurgence of the disease.
The WHO has called for increased investment in malaria control efforts, including the development and deployment of new tools such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and new drugs to treat the disease.
The Anopheles stephensi’s resistance to commonly used insecticides could lead to a significant increase in malaria cases, which could, in turn, lead to increased deaths and economic losses.
Public health officials are urging Kenyans to take measures to prevent bites from anopheles, and researchers are calling for the development and deployment of new tools to control the spread of the disease.
The fight against malaria in Africa has made significant progress in recent years, but the detection of anopheles could lead to a resurgence of the disease.
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