I love this season

…and it’s not because of changing leaves and pumpkin spice lattes.

We are approaching the rainy season in many malaria-endemic countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquitoes like me THRIVE during this time thanks to the abundance of puddles of fresh rainwater to breed in. Rainy season can also cause flooding, making it easier for me to hide out in hard to reach areas.

Add this to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and this is the perfect storm (pun-intended) for mosquitoes like me. But BBC News is reporting that some East Africans have developed a genetic mutation that gives them resistance to malaria.

Humans continue to shock me with the lengths they will go to avoid me. Am I really THAT repulsive?

Malaria resistance breakthrough

by BBC News

“Discovered in East Africa, the finding holds promise for completely new treatments.”

Spread of city-loving malaria mosquitoes could pose grave threat to Africa

by Science Magazine

“An Asian malaria-carrying mosquito that has adapted to urban life has the potential to spread to dozens of cities across the African continent, a new modeling study suggests. That could put more than 100 million additional people at risk of the deadly disease, including many who were never before exposed to it and have no immunity.”

This disease kills 400,000 people a year. A new map shows where climate change will make it worse.

by World Economic Forum 

“…there are huge efforts underway to provide detailed maps of current malaria cases in Africa, and to predict which areas will become more susceptible in future, since such maps are vital to control and treat transmission. Mosquito populations can respond quickly to climate change, so it is also important to understand what global warming means for malaria risk across the continent.”

Women on the Frontlines: Malaria in Ecuador

by Nothing But Nets, United Nations Foundation

“Malaria affects the lives of Ecuadorian women in many ways. Now the pandemic is reversing progress against the deadly mosquito-borne disease. When we #UniteforHealth across countries, communities, and sectors, we can beat new challenges like COVID-19, as well as age-old challenges like malaria.”

Live with Dr. Anthony Fauci: COVID-19 and its Global Impact on AIDS, TB, and Malaria

by Friends of the Global Fight U.S. 

“Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria hosted a live conversation with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci exploring how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting low- and middle-income countries around the world, the threat it poses to long-term U.S. global health investments and how the U.S. can help.”

Bill Gates: How COVID-19 Is Disrupting The Way We Fight Malaria

by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“COVID-19 disrupts the entire global health care system. As we turn our attention to stopping COVID-19, it’s essential that we don’t give malaria a new opportunity.”

How does COVID-19 impact the fight against malaria?

by The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

“A recent report from WHO says the continued disruption to malaria prevention could revert mortality to levels seen two decades ago. In this episode we speak to Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health, Sian Clarke, who is Co-Director of the Malaria Centre at LSHTM and Dr. Corine Ngufor, Assistant Prof of Medical Entomology, who explains how we can adapt current malaria campaigns in West Africa while maintaining safety from COVID-19 transmission.”

Craving more malaria news?

Join us on October 1st for a high-level virtual event “Zero Malaria Challenge: How the lessons of the past can inspire progress to end malaria” led by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya in his capacity as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance. Click here to register.