2014/07/31 by Sadie J. Ryan, Amy McNally, Leah R. Johnson +7 · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Malaria Research and Control #Mosquito-borne diseases and control #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #q-bio.QM
paper · pdf · doi:10.1089/vbz.2015.1822
published as Journal of vector borne and Zoonotic diseases 15(12): 817-725 (2015) · Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (2015)
openalex publication_date 2015/11/18 · arxiv created 2015/11/26 · arxiv updated 2016/05/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We mapped current and future temperature suitability for malaria transmission in Africa using a published model that incorporates nonlinear physiological responses to temperature of the mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae and the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We found that a larger area of Africa currently experiences the ideal temperature for transmission than previously supposed. Under future climate projections, we predicted a modest increase in the overall area suitable for malaria transmission, but a net decrease in the most suitable area. Combined with population density projections, our maps suggest that areas with temperatures suitable for year-round, highest risk transmission will shift from coastal West Africa to the Albertine Rift between Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, while areas with seasonal transmission suitability will shift toward sub-Saharan coastal areas. Mapping temperature suitability places important bounds on malaria transmissibility and, along with local level demographic, socioeconomic, and ecological factors, can indicate where resources may be best spent on malaria control.