Space Travel News  
EPIDEMICS
Warmer climate threatens malaria spread in Ethiopia
by Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) June 14, 2017


Cool, high-lying areas of Ethiopia hitherto shielded from heat-loving malaria mosquitoes are increasingly exposed to the disease as the climate warms, researchers said Thursday.

Most Ethiopians live in the country's highlands, and have long enjoyed natural protection against mosquitoes carrying the malaria-causing parasites Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.

But the buffered area has been shrinking since 1981, scientists reported in the journal Environmental Research Letters. About six million people live in the newly-vulnerable regions.

Air temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit) prevent development of P. falciparum. The survival threshold for P. vivax is 15 C, according to the research team.

Low temperatures also impede the spread of mosquitos that host the parasites.

Since temperatures decrease with altitude, much of the Ethiopian highlands -- 1,500 to 2,500 metres (4,921 to 8,202 feet) above sea level -- were beyond the reach of malaria transmission.

To date, it was not known whether the mercury had risen in the East African highlands, or whether global warming contributed to a recent upsurge in malaria in the region.

To find out, a team from the University of Maine and Columbia University in New York compiled a national temperature dataset for Ethiopia covering the period 1981-2014.

They discovered that temperatures rose at least 0.22 C (0.4 F) per decade.

The team then used the new climate data to pinpoint the highest elevation where the average minimum temperature never exceeds the 18 C or 15 C malaria threshold.

"The elevation at which the temperature thresholds are met has risen by more than 100 metres (328 feet) since 1981," the study's lead author Bradfield Lyon of the University of Maine, said in a statement.

Taking into account natural variability in the regional climate and impacts of the seasonal El Nino weather phenomenon, the observed rise was "consistent" with global warming caused by mankind's burning of fossil fuels, the authors found.

"Of particular concern is that the... changes are occurring in the densely populated highlands, where higher elevation has historically served as a buffer against malaria transmission," they wrote.

According to the World Health Organization, there were 212 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2015, and 429,000 deaths.

Ninety percent of malaria cases and deaths occur in Africa. Children under five are most at risk.

EPIDEMICS
Scientists fight mosquitoes, malaria with toxin-infused fungi
Washington (UPI) Jun 13, 2017
An international team of scientists is taking a unique approach in the battle against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The team, lead by researchers from the University of Maryland, have designed a mosquito-targeting fungus that replicates spider and scorpion toxins. The fungus is not a risk to humans and early test results suggest it is safe for honeybees and other beneficial insects. ... read more

Related Links
Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

EPIDEMICS
EPIDEMICS
Study estimates amount of water needed to carve Martian valleys

Curiosity Peels Back Layers on Ancient Martian Lake

Collateral damage from cosmic rays increases cancer risks for Mars astronauts

Student-Made Mars Rover Concepts Lift Off

EPIDEMICS
Cube Quest Challenge Team Spotlight: Cislunar Explorers

Winning plans for CubeSats to the Moon

Printing bricks from moondust using the Sun's heat

NASA selects ASU's ShadowCam for moon mission

EPIDEMICS
A whole new Jupiter with first science results from Juno

First results from Juno show cyclones and massive magnetism

Jupiters complex transient auroras

NASA's Juno probe forces 'rethink' on Jupiter

EPIDEMICS
Flares May Threaten Planet Habitability Near Red Dwarfs

Hubble's tale of 2 exoplanets - Nature vs nurture

Discovery reveals planet almost as hot as the Sun

Astronomers discover alien world hotter than most stars

EPIDEMICS
Proton returns to flight with US satellite after 12 month hiatus

Russian rocket returns to service with launch of US satellite

Ariane 5 launches its heaviest telecom payload

SpaceX's first recycled Dragon arrives at space station

EPIDEMICS
Seeds of 5,000-year-old tree bud after returning from space

Reusable craft are in CASIC's plans

China discloses Chang'e 5 lunar probe landing site

China to provide more opportunities to private space companies

EPIDEMICS
NASA's Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft a Discovery Machine

Inspiration Links The Beatles, a Fossil and a NASA Mission

First 24-hour Global Broadcast About Asteroid Impact Hazard

'Tiny clocks' crystallize understanding of meteorite crashes









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.