Rising temperature and malaria transmission in Europe
Citation: Fischer L, Gültekin N, Kaelin MB, et al. Rising temperature and its impact on receptivity to malaria transmission in Europe: A systematic review. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2020;36:101815.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: Swiss Armed Forces and University of Zurich Competence Centre MilMedBiol.
What is this? Malaria is a life-threatening vector-borne disease. The presence of competent mosquito vectors, favourable climatic conditions and rising temperatures might lead to the re-emergence of malaria in Europe.
In this systematic review, the authors searched for articles focused on rising temperature associated with climate change and transmission of malaria in Europe. They restricted their searches to articles published in English, French or German before 21 October 2019. They included 10 studies.
What was found: Anopheles mosquitoes capable of spreading malaria are still present in European countries and increasing temperatures are predicted to lead to a northward spread of Anopheles mosquitoes and an extension of the season suitable for malaria transmission.
The most widely distributed Anopheles mosquito was An. Atroparvus, which is likely to play an important role in malaria transmission under future climate conditions.
The highest vector stability and receptivity were predicted for Southern and South-Eastern Europe.
Implications: The authors of the review stated that while the current potential of malaria transmission in Europe is limited, there is a need to strengthen disease awareness and improve public health surveillance and vector control, especially in the most vulnerable areas.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of socioeconomic status and place of residence.
This summary was prepared by Catherine Haynes, checked by Grace Meng, and finalized by Mike Clarke.