Rising temperatures shift malaria risk across Africa, threatening new regions

A recent Nature study links rising ambient temperatures to a redistribution of malaria suitability across Africa, with cooler highland and southern regions becoming increasingly vulnerable while some West African areas grow too hot for efficient transmission. The WHO notes that the African Region still accounts for about 95% of global malaria cases, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger bearing the majority of deaths, especially among children under five.

The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine has shown a 13.2% reduction in all-cause mortality in pilot sites in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, yet funding cuts threaten broader control efforts. Experts such as Olugbenga Mokuolu and Olumide Idowu stress that climate is not the sole driver; insecticide resistance, financing shortfalls and weak health infrastructure remain critical challenges. They call for accelerated adaptation plans and more aggressive anti-malaria campaigns in newly at-risk areas.