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The larvae of Anopheles stephensi – the main mosquito vector of malaria in India – are now “abundantly present” in places across Africa, said researchers at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands and the ‘Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Ethiopia. Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans or from animals to humans.
This species of mosquito has only appeared in Africa for a few years. Today, this invasive insect is “abundantly present” in water containers in Ethiopia’s cities – and very susceptible to local strains of malaria, researchers said.
Malaria, which is spread through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes, is both a preventable and treatable disease – yet 409,000 people died from it in 2019.
Researchers investigated whether mosquitoes pose a health risk by spreading local malaria parasites.
“To our surprise, the Asian mosquito turned out to be even more susceptible to local malaria parasites than our Ethiopian mosquito colony. This mosquito appears to be an extremely effective propagator of the two main species of malaria, ”said Teun Bousema, professor of epidemiology. of tropical infectious diseases at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, in a statement.
“We need to target mosquito larvae where they are now and prevent mosquitoes from spreading over long distances, for example through airports and seaports. If this fails, the risk of urban malaria will increase in large areas. parts of Africa, ”says the study’s author. Fitsam Tadesse, a doctoral student in the medical microbiology department at Radboud University Medical Center, said.
The study’s results were “significant,” said Jo Lines, professor of malaria control and vector biology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“When these things first happen, people say ‘it’s just a mosquito, and we’ll care when it’s a vector’,” said Lines, who was not involved in the study, at CNN.
“The point is, you can get rid of it when it’s new, if you wait until it gets established enough, that you actually notice it causing disease outbreaks … I’m sorry, it’s too late. All you can do is deal with the problem, ”he added.
Earlier examples of once regional “globalizing” mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito, which is now “invading northern Europe” should serve as a warning that swift action is needed to tackle the problem. problem, said Lines.
“I think we need a greater sense of urgency on this, continentally than we do now,” he said. “If we wait now to find out more, it will be too late to get rid of it. It will no longer be an anchor you might want to get rid of, it will be one of the native mosquitoes of a much of East Africa. ”
Lines warned that if Anopheles stephensi were to spread to cities in Africa, the consequences would be severe.
“The city center has so far been the only refuge against malaria in parts of Africa,” he said. “But in the future, if Anopheles stephensi becomes established, it will no longer be.”
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