Dr Jennifer Gardy
Deputy Director, Surveillance, Data and Epidemiology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The changing climate is complicating the fight against malaria. We must redouble our efforts to eradicate this disease.
Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are creating unpredictable malaria outbreaks, expanding its geographical reach and potentially costing millions. However, through strengthened partnerships, the effective scale-up of existing tools and increased investment in new ones, eradicating malaria is possible.
Warming trends, shifting malaria landscapes
Pakistan’s 2022 monsoon, amplified by the climate crisis, triggered a fourfold surge in malaria cases, turning low-risk areas into hotspots nearly overnight. Rising temperatures are extending malaria seasons and nudging the mosquitoes that carry the disease into new areas and higher altitudes.
Better predicting the spread of malaria
Like weather forecasting, we now predict malaria outbreaks. These systems monitor climate, mosquito populations and parasite genetics, creating early warning models for upcoming case surges. This data enables malaria programmes to prepare for outbreaks, deploy resources efficiently and protect vulnerable communities.
Initiatives like the Malaria Atlas Project and the Institute for Health Modeling and Climate Solutions are helping countries understand their unique vulnerabilities and tailor responses accordingly. Imagine being able to deploy limited resources like bed nets or medicines to prevent malaria in pregnant women before an outbreak — that’s the power of prediction in action.
After a decade of stagnation, malaria prevalence
in young children fell by 17% in the past five years.
Malaria progress with a data-driven approach
Mozambique has one of the highest malaria case count burdens in the world. After a decade of stagnation, malaria prevalence in young children fell by 17% in the past five years. This progress was thanks to scaling data-driven approaches, including more effective vector control tools and monitoring systems providing more accurate case counts.
Invest in new tools to end malaria
Better predictions are only the first step. To truly win the fight against malaria within a generation, we need a full suite of innovative tools and strategies, forged through a united effort. Researchers, governments, health authorities and professionals must work together to ensure the right tools are used to accelerate the development of new interventions.
Consider durable vaccines with high efficacy, monoclonal antibodies and other potentially groundbreaking solutions like the modification of mosquitoes that carry malaria, so they can no longer spread disease.
The climate crisis may be creating new challenges, but by embracing cutting-edge disease monitoring technologies, strengthening partnerships and investing in innovative solutions, we can turn the tide on malaria. In doing so, we will save millions of lives, alleviate economic pressure and pave the way for healthier, more prosperous communities around the world.