Shüné Oliver, National Institute for Communicable Diseases e Jaishree Raman, National Institute for Communicable Diseases
As the Earth warms up the malaria vector will develop faster, allowing them to breed faster, bite more frequently and expand into formerly unsuitable habitats.
Infectious diseases like COVID-19 top the list of health concerns.
Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images
The human population has doubled in 48 years, and worsening climate change has left the world facing serious health risks, from infectious diseases to hunger and heat stress.
80% of malaria deaths are in children younger than five.
Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images
Jaishree Raman, National Institute for Communicable Diseases
For a malaria vaccine to have an impact, health promotion is key. Awareness campaigns must address safety concerns and emphasise expected positive impacts.
The pandemic and a health workers’ strike disrupted essential health services.
Donwilson Odhiambo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
One of the oldest and deadliest diseases, malaria caused more than 627,000 deaths in 2020. A new treatment based on a drug initially developed to fight cancer has shown considerable promise.
Certain viruses like dengue and Zika can make their hosts smell tastier to mosquitoes. Luckily, vitamin A and its derivatives may help combat these odor changes.
Molecular research like that conducted at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in Nigeria is key to medical breakthroughs.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images
Molecular research is expensive, but worth it because of the burden of disease that it could relieve.
Artificial light may trick malaria-transmitting mosquitoes into changing their feeding habits, protecting people against bites.
Professor Lizette Koekemoer/University of the Witwatersrand
So far, similar medical diagnostics tech has either required time-consuming post processing, or has used parts that prevented it from being integrated into a flat design.
Principal Medical Scientist and Head of Laboratory for Antimalarial Resistance Monitoring and Malaria Operational Research, National Institute for Communicable Diseases