Climate change also has an impact on malaria infections. Witness the consequences of extreme weather events in Pakistan, where there have been severe floods, and in Mozambique, which has been battling hurricanes. As a result, there has been a huge increase in malaria infections in both countries. “Anytime you have an extreme weather event, it’s quite common to have a flare-up of malaria,” said Peter Sands of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The cause is the increase in extreme weather events and the resulting large bodies of standing water that attract mosquitoes. The poorest sections of the population are particularly affected by the consequences.
Extensive Habitats
Climate change is also expanding the possible habitats of mosquitoes that transmit malaria. The highlands of Africa, in Kenya and Ethiopia, have been uninhabitable for mosquitoes for some time. However, this has changed due to a change in low temperatures – mosquitoes can now breed there as well.
Another crisis that has exacerbated AIDS and tuberculosis is the war in Ukraine. Tuberculosis cases are also increasing among the poorest population groups in India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
