Global Warming and Malaria
Thursday, 23. March 2006, 15:12:40
The life cycle of the mosquito that transmits malaria and the microorganism that causes the disease are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, so rising average temperatures may be making conditions more favourable for mosquitoes and pathogen development, leading in turn to a rise in malaria cases.
See also the Schema of the Life Cycle of Malaria at
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/biology/life_cycle.htm
or a bit simpler at
http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~parasite/lifecycles/plasmodium_lifecycle.html
and
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/life_cycle_of_the_malarial_parasite.htm
The short story is that malaria outbreaks usually are confined to places where the minimum winter temperature reaches no lower than 16 °C. The parasites and the mosquitoes also need water during their life cycle. Malaria mosquitoes thrive in hot and humid weather. Increased temperatures and more rain in some areas will cause hot and humid weather, which will allow for mosquitoes to migrate to new places and spread the disease.
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http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Warming_Trend_May_Contribute_To_Malarias_Rise.html
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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/uom-wtm032106.php
See also the Schema of the Life Cycle of Malaria at
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/biology/life_cycle.htm
or a bit simpler at
http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~parasite/lifecycles/plasmodium_lifecycle.html
and
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/life_cycle_of_the_malarial_parasite.htm
The short story is that malaria outbreaks usually are confined to places where the minimum winter temperature reaches no lower than 16 °C. The parasites and the mosquitoes also need water during their life cycle. Malaria mosquitoes thrive in hot and humid weather. Increased temperatures and more rain in some areas will cause hot and humid weather, which will allow for mosquitoes to migrate to new places and spread the disease.
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