Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review
Malaria, a severe vector-borne disease, affects billions of people globally and claims over half a million lives annually. Climate change can impact lifespan and the development of vectors. There is a gap in organized, multidisciplined research on climate change’s impact on malaria incidence and tra...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/71 |
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| author | Dereba Muleta Megersa Xiao-San Luo |
| author_facet | Dereba Muleta Megersa Xiao-San Luo |
| author_sort | Dereba Muleta Megersa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Malaria, a severe vector-borne disease, affects billions of people globally and claims over half a million lives annually. Climate change can impact lifespan and the development of vectors. There is a gap in organized, multidisciplined research on climate change’s impact on malaria incidence and transmission. This review assesses and summarizes research on the effects of change in climate on human health, specifically on malaria. Results suggest that higher temperatures accelerate larval development, promote reproduction, enhance blood feed frequency, increase digestion, shorten vector life cycles, and lower mortality rates. Rainfall provides aquatic stages, extends mosquitoes’ lifespans, and increases cases. Mosquito activity increases with high humidity, which facilitates malaria transmission. Flooding can lead to increased inhabitation development, vector population growth, and habitat diversion, increasing breeding sites and the number of cases. Droughts can increase vector range by creating new breeding grounds. Strong storms wash <i>Anopheles</i>’ eggs and reproduction habitat. It limits reproduction and affects disease outbreaks. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indirectly alter malaria transmission. The study recommends strengthening collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to reduce malaria risks. It also suggests strengthening control mechanisms and improved early warnings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b62a71bd3bca409f9bfa139edb1e3aba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-b62a71bd3bca409f9bfa139edb1e3aba2025-01-24T13:21:55ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-011617110.3390/atmos16010071Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A ReviewDereba Muleta Megersa0Xiao-San Luo1International Center for Ecology, Meteorology, and Environment, School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agriculture Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaInternational Center for Ecology, Meteorology, and Environment, School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agriculture Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaMalaria, a severe vector-borne disease, affects billions of people globally and claims over half a million lives annually. Climate change can impact lifespan and the development of vectors. There is a gap in organized, multidisciplined research on climate change’s impact on malaria incidence and transmission. This review assesses and summarizes research on the effects of change in climate on human health, specifically on malaria. Results suggest that higher temperatures accelerate larval development, promote reproduction, enhance blood feed frequency, increase digestion, shorten vector life cycles, and lower mortality rates. Rainfall provides aquatic stages, extends mosquitoes’ lifespans, and increases cases. Mosquito activity increases with high humidity, which facilitates malaria transmission. Flooding can lead to increased inhabitation development, vector population growth, and habitat diversion, increasing breeding sites and the number of cases. Droughts can increase vector range by creating new breeding grounds. Strong storms wash <i>Anopheles</i>’ eggs and reproduction habitat. It limits reproduction and affects disease outbreaks. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indirectly alter malaria transmission. The study recommends strengthening collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to reduce malaria risks. It also suggests strengthening control mechanisms and improved early warnings.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/71climate changeextreme weatherglobal warminghealth threatsmalariavector-borne diseases |
| spellingShingle | Dereba Muleta Megersa Xiao-San Luo Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review Atmosphere climate change extreme weather global warming health threats malaria vector-borne diseases |
| title | Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review |
| title_full | Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review |
| title_short | Effects of Climate Change on Malaria Risk to Human Health: A Review |
| title_sort | effects of climate change on malaria risk to human health a review |
| topic | climate change extreme weather global warming health threats malaria vector-borne diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/71 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT derebamuletamegersa effectsofclimatechangeonmalariarisktohumanhealthareview AT xiaosanluo effectsofclimatechangeonmalariarisktohumanhealthareview |