Massive irrigation projects in Africa are turning malaria into a year-round threat by killing off the 'dry season' that used to stop it.
While irrigation is built to improve rural health and wealth, this study found it creates a 21-fold increase in mosquito biting risk. By providing a permanent water source, these systems eliminate the natural seasonal break that usually crashes mosquito populations, turning a seasonal illness into a perpetual presence.
Proximity to Irrigation Increases Mosquito Biting Risk in An Area Subject to Agricultural Expansion in Southern Malawi
SSRN · 6446223
Background: Southern Malawi is endemic for malaria and faces evolving transmission risks with the construction of a large-scale agriculture irrigation system under the Shire Valley Transformation Project (SVTP). To understand how the SVTP irrigation will affect mosquito-biting risk in the area, we conducted longitudinal entomological surveillance across three communities that differ in ecology, hydrology and distance from existing irrigation.<br><br>Methods: Over 20 months, mosquitoes were colle