The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new strategy to combat the spread of an invasive mosquito species in Africa, anopheles stephensi.
This was said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The WHO recognized the expansion of anopheles stephensi as a serious threat to malaria control and eradication in a 2019 vector warning.
“Originally native to parts of South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, anopheles stephensi has been expanding its range over the last decade, with detections reported in Djibouti in 2012. Ethiopia and Sudan in 2016, Somalia in 2019 and Nigeria in 2020. Unlike the other main mosquito vectors of malaria in Africa, it thrives in urban settings,” the health agency stated.
With over 40% of Africa’s population living in cities, the WHO warned that mosquito invasion and spread might constitute a substantial danger to malaria control and eradication in the continent.
According to Jan Kolaczinski, the head of the WHO Global Malaria Programme’s Vector Control and Insecticide Resistance Unit, the organisation is still learning about the prevalence of the anopheles and its role in malaria transmission in Africa.
“Increasing collaboration across sectors and borders and strengthening surveillance to determine the extent of the spread of Anopheles Stephensi and its role in transmission,” stated Mr Kolaczinski. “Others are improving information exchange on the presence of Anopheles Stephensi and on efforts to control it. Also, developing guidance for national malaria control programmes on appropriate ways to respond to anopheles stephensi.”
National responses against Anopheles Stephensi, according to Mr Kolazincki, should be coordinated with efforts to prevent malaria and other vector-borne illnesses when possible.
