Highlights: In Madagascar, there are 235 known species of mosquitoes. Among them, only five are malaria vectors. Enough, however, to infect humans more and more: in eight years, the number of malaria cases has increased by 40% on the island. A team of researchers from the Pasteur Institute and the IRD is entirely dedicated to the study of these disease-carrying mosquitoes. They are trying to understand why this increase, to understand the transmission cycles. And to control them, we must study them, understand why since 2015, cases of malaria have soared.

In Madagascar, there are 235 known species of mosquitoes. Among them, only five are malaria vectors. Enough, however, to infect humans more and more: in eight years, the number…

Soaring malaria in Madagascar: a team of researchers entirely dedicated to the subject

In Madagascar, there are 235 known species of mosquitoes. Among them, only five are malaria vectors. Enough, however, to infect humans a little more: in eight years, the number of malaria cases has increased by 40% on the island. In the country, a team of researchers from the Pasteur Institute and the IRD is entirely dedicated to the study of these disease-carrying mosquitoes. Meeting with some of its members as part of a conference organized this weekend of February 17 by the IRD and the French Institute of Madagascar.

Every year, more than 600,000 people die from malaria worldwide. © Shutterstock/mycteria

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Antananarivo,

Sarah Tétaud

The mosquito, number 1 enemy of human beings? Perhaps, every year, more than 600,000 people die from

malaria

worldwide. However, wanting to eradicate them is a mistake, explains Dr Luciano Tantely, entomologist at the Pasteur Institute, as they remain useful to our ecosystem, in many respects: “If they

disappear, it will disrupt the bat food chain and dragonflies, for example. Furthermore, they function like bees: they also serve as pollinators of plants and flowers. And finally, they are also used for renewing and cleaning water. They eat small critters. And at the same time they filter the water. This is why they should not be eliminated. Just control them.

►

Find all our articles on malaria here

Establish the national control strategy

And to control them, we must study them, understand why since 2015, cases of malaria have soared on the island. “

+40% is a real scourge,”

says Doctor Diego Ayala, head of the medical entomology unit at the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar.

We are trying to understand why this increase, to understand the transmission cycles. We want to know which species are transmitting, in which regions of Madagascar, we want to know if they bite during the day or at night. If they will migrate, or will stay there, if they adapt; and we will study their genes in order to better understand how this adaptation took place. At the same time, we will look at the increase in resistance to insecticides.

Ongoing studies, extremely important for establishing the national strategy to combat malaria.

Soaring malaria in Madagascar: a team of researchers entirely dedicated to the subject

Soaring malaria in Madagascar: a team of researchers entirely dedicated to the subject

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest