Climate change 'fuelling' spread of malaria in Kenya

Climate change is fuelling the spread of malaria in Kenya, with warmer weather and changes in rainfall patterns causing the disease to appear in previously largely unaffected areas of the country, researchers have claimed.

While Kenya's highlands have previously been affected by epidemics of the disease, Professor Shem Wandinga of the University of Nairobi told National Geographic that these have become more frequent in the last 20 years.

He cited the levels of rainfall in recent years as helping both mosquitoes and the malaria parasite to flourish, as well as pointing out the additional problems faced by highlanders when trying to access health services.

"We expect the frequency of diseases to increase and hence the need for early warning and early detection systems," Prof Wandinga told the website.

He added: "We need to improve health delivery services to communities to cope with these sudden increases."

According to the most recently available figures from the World Health Organization, in 2003 just five per cent Kenyan children under-five were sleeping beneath insecticide-treated nets.

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