
By Abimbola Kintum
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new initiative to stop the spread of invasive malaria vector in Africa.
In a 2019 vector alert, WHO identified the spread of Anopheles stephensi as a significant threat to malaria control and elimination – particularly in Africa, where the disease hits hardest.
Originally native to parts of South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, An. stephensi has been expanding its range over the last decade, with detections reported in Nigeria (2020), Somalia (2019), Ethiopia and Sudan (2016), and Djibouti (2012). Unlike the other main mosquito vectors of malaria in Africa, it thrives in urban settings.
With more than 40% of the population in Africa living in urban environments, the invasion and spread of An. stephensi could pose a significant threat to the control and elimination of malaria in the region. But large-scale surveillance of the vector is still in its infancy, and more research and data are urgently needed.
According to Dr Jan Kolaczinski, who leads the Vector Control and Insecticide Resistance unit with the WHO Global Malaria Programme, “It is important to underscore that we still don’t know how far the mosquito species has already spread, and how much of a problem it is or could be.”
WHO’s new initiative aims to support an effective regional response to An. stephensi on the African continent through a five-pronged approach: increasing collaboration across sectors and border; strengthening surveillance to determine the extent of the spread of An. stephensi and its role in transmission; improving information exchange on the presence of An. stephensi and on efforts to control it; developing guidance for national malaria control programmes on appropriate ways to respond to An. Stephensi and prioritizing research to evaluate the impact of interventions and tools against An. Stephensi.
Dr Ebenezer Baba malaria advisor for the WHO African Region noted that “Integrated action will be key to success against Anopheles stephensi and other vector-borne diseases.” “Shifting our focus to integrated and locally adapted vector control can save both money and lives,” he added.
The WHO Malaria Threats Map features a dedicated section on invasive vectors, including An. stephensi. All confirmed reports of the presence of An. stephensi should be reported to WHO to allow an open sharing of data and an up-to-date understanding of its distribution and spread. This knowledge will ultimately provide a basis to assess the effectiveness of any efforts to control or eliminate An. stephensi.