International Programs

Malaria has always been one of the most vaunted diseases in human history. Believed to have co-evolved in the plains of Africa alongside humans, it still befuddles modern scientists fighting to unlock the key to an effective vaccine. A leading cause of death worldwide, it infects around 500 million people annually, causing between one and two million deaths, mostly in children under the age of 5, (World Health Organization). The vast majority of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa but the parasite also afflicts millions of Latin America and Asia. Malaria is caused by four species of protozoa in the genus Plasmodium, the most pathogenic of which is P. Falciparum. The parasite is spread to humans by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, which serves as the definitive host the parasite, (Wahlgren 1999).
Global Climate Change was one of the most controversial topics in the last 30 years before a scientific and general consensus recently emerged. Earth has weathered many warming periods in its vast history but the world’s scientists are united in the assertion that increasing levels of CO2 are causing an unprecedented rise in the Earth’s temperature. This man made phenomenon, if it remains unchecked, will have many dire consequences for life on this planet as we know it. My investigation was initially founded by Al Gore’s claim in his film “An Inconvenient Truth” that increased temperatures would lead to a north-south geographic spread in the range of disease vectors such as Anopheles mosquito. In doing so, they would place entire malaria-free human populations at risk, including those in the United States. This thesis will look into the veracity of this claim by employing a variety of methods. I utilized findings, conclusions and projects from several different studies to come up with my own conclusion on what the effect of global climate change in the malaria transmission will be.
My research shows that the global climate change will not have as great an effect as other man-made influences when it comes to spreading the geographic distribution of malaria. Factors such as population movement, rapid population explosions, deforestation and environmental degradation, and treatment resistance have all played a large role in the introducing new populations to the malaria than climate in the history of the disease. My findings indicated that global climate change would do little to expand the latitudinal distribution of malaria. Instead, it is projected to increase the transmission season in areas where malaria already exists while also occasionally spreading to higher altitudes. Although these impacts should not be overlooked, I found the assertion that malaria transmission will dramatically increase its range to be unsubstantiated.
To understand how malaria transmission is related to global climate change, we must first take an-depth look at how both currently function within the parameters of their current relationship.