Scientist highlights climate change malaria link

A world-leading entomologist has suggested that there is a strong correlation between climate change and the spread of malaria.

Dr Matthew Thomas has suggested that these changes could cause daily variations in global temperatures, which would affect the parasite population.

As such, assessments as to the risk and location of forthcoming malarial outbreaks could have to be re-assessed and more information needs to be gathered to construct a more comprehensive picture of future malarial developments.

Dr Thomas said: "We need higher resolution environmental and biological data to understand how climate change will affect the spread of the malaria parasite.

"We need to understand temperature from the point of view of the mosquito. Daily temperature fluctuation can increase or decrease malaria risk, depending on background conditions."

Dr Thomas presented the argument for a greater consideration of climactic factors at the annual meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.