What impact will climate change have on malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Today, malaria kills over 600,000 people annually, with nearly half a million of these deaths being children under five years old.

The disease is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for more than 95% of global malaria deaths.

Within Africa, West Africa bears the highest burden, with countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone experiencing the highest infection and death rates.

For example, infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa are about 100 times higher than in South America and 50 times higher than in South Asia.

Children are disproportionately affected, representing around 70% of all malaria deaths globally.