Surge in Urban Malaria Threatens Progress in Africa

The UK Health Security Agency has launched an early warning system to detect tropical mosquito and tick-borne viruses in Britain, as climate change drives these pests northward from southern Europe. Initial focus will be on tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Usutu virus, and West Nile virus, with four confirmed human cases of TBEV in the New Forest and North Yorkshire Moors. Meanwhile, in East Africa, the invasive Anopheles stephensi mosquito, resistant to insecticides and thriving in urban environments, is significantly contributing to a malaria resurgence, reversing years of progress in malaria control. The World Health Organization reported a dramatic rise in malaria cases from 4.1 million in 2022 to 7.3 million in 2024, with children under five accounting for the majority of deaths. Experts warn that traditional prevention measures, such as bed nets, may become less effective against this new urban mosquito. The emergence of these invasive species underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and response strategies globally.