Mosquitoes threaten millions of Africans
Tens of millions of people in African cities face a threat from a species of Asian mosquitoes that transmits malaria and is known for its great ability to adapt to the urban environment, according to a recent study, at a time when malaria in Africa is concentrated in rural areas.
One of the most prominent types of mosquitoes in the brown continent is Anopheles Gambiae, which is known to be the most dangerous animal in the world, but it does not like pools of polluted water in cities and has not used to lay its larvae in urban clean water tanks.
In a study published by the American scientific journal "Banas", on Monday, entomologist Marian Sinca, a researcher at the University of Oxford, mapped out the spread of another type of insect known by its scientific name "Anopheles Stephensi" and its origin is from Asia.
This type is distinguished from others in that it has learned to exploit water tanks in cities and can sneak out of any small hole in which to place its larvae, especially the holes in cement and bricks.
Only this species has succeeded in penetrating central urban areas, Senca told "AFP."
The Anopheles stevensi mosquitoes caused the first outbreak in 2012 in Djibouti, where malaria was almost absent.
This species was later observed in Ethiopia, Sudan and other regions.
Marian Senca used this model to predict which African regions are more adapted to the spread of mosquitoes from outside.
It concluded that these mosquitoes spread, especially in areas with high population density and high temperature, and where sufficient amounts of precipitation are recorded.
The study concluded that 44 cities are "highly adapted" to the insect, and that 126 million Africans are facing a threat from this species, especially in the equatorial region.
The researcher warned that "40% of the population residing in urban areas may suddenly find themselves in a vulnerable situation and may contract malaria, which will be very dangerous."
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