Health Deforestation in the Amazon increases the risk of malaria
Massive deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is promoting the spread of malaria, according to a new study. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from the USA and Brazil after evaluating data from 2003 to 2022.
22.10.2024, 11:15
SDA
The increase in the monthly deforestation rate by one percent leads to an increase in malaria cases by an average of 6.3 percent just one month later. The influence of rainforest destruction on the risk of malaria varies from state to state, the research group writes in the "Proceedings" of the US National Academy of Sciences ("PNAS"). However, the results suggest that deforestation is associated with an increase in malaria cases one month later.
The reason for this may be that the mosquito Nyssorhynchus darlingi, which is mainly responsible for malaria transmission in Brazil, finds more favorable breeding conditions after deforestation, the team reports. It prefers breeding habitats with clean and partially sunlit water, with aquatic vegetation, but free of decomposing organic matter.
In natural forests, where light is usually scarce, these conditions are rarely present, the report continued. At the edge of logging areas, however, the mosquitoes often find ideal breeding conditions. The probability of contact between humans and mosquitoes is also higher there.
Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. The pathogen is transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease initially manifests itself as fever, headaches, aching limbs and diarrhea and can be fatal if left untreated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 249 million people in 85 countries around the world contracted malaria in 2022, and 608,000 people died from it. Most of the fatalities were children under the age of five.
