Climate change shifts malaria risk to southern, East Africa: Study

A study in Nature found climate change has slightly increased childhood malaria overall in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rising temperatures could increase malaria risk in southern and East Africa (e.g., Ethiopian highlands, Angola, Zambia, northeast South Africa) by up to 20% by 2100.

In current hotspots like West African nations (Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali), climate change may reduce malaria cases by 5%, and could eliminate it in extremely hot Sahelian countries (Niger, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia).

The study, 'The past and future impact of climate change on childhood malaria in Africa,' was co-authored by Tamma Carleton of the Climate Impact Lab at UC Berkeley.

Researchers say both climate mitigation and adaptation, including malaria elimination strategies, are needed to address the shifting risk.