Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa
Owing to the scarcity of malaria vector mosquito populations in urban settings, urban malaria is rare in South Africa. Anopheles stephensi, an efficient urban malaria vector in South Asia and parts of the Arabian Peninsula (excluding southwest Saudi Arabia and Yemen), has recently expanded its rang...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2025-05-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18359 |
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| author | Maria L. Kaiser Yael Dahan-Moss Lizette L. Koekemoer Mbavhalelo B. Shandukani Delenesaw Yewhalaw Basil D. Brooke |
| author_facet | Maria L. Kaiser Yael Dahan-Moss Lizette L. Koekemoer Mbavhalelo B. Shandukani Delenesaw Yewhalaw Basil D. Brooke |
| author_sort | Maria L. Kaiser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Owing to the scarcity of malaria vector mosquito populations in urban settings, urban malaria is rare in South Africa. Anopheles stephensi, an efficient urban malaria vector in South Asia and parts of the Arabian Peninsula (excluding southwest Saudi Arabia and Yemen), has recently expanded its range into African countries and territories where it has not previously occurred. The central hypothesis to explain the recent dispersal of An. stephensi out of its endemic range and into sub-Saharan Africa is via shipping, making seaports especially vulnerable to introductions of this species, although land crossings and general population movements are likely important as well. Based on an analysis of global shipping networks, South Africa is at risk of invasion by this species, although it has not been recorded in southern Africa to date. The World Health Organization has issued an alert for the spread of An. stephensi, including guidelines for surveillance in non-invaded areas, territories or countries that could be at risk. The aim of this review was to assess the risk of An. stephensi to South Africa and provide recommendations for vigilance and vector surveillance. We conclude that the range expansion of An. stephensi poses a significant threat to malaria control and elimination in southern Africa, and recommend regularised surveillance in at-risk areas, further engagement with existing multisectoral and cross-border initiatives, the mitigation of malaria in urban planning, and community awareness concerning water storage practices.
Significance:
The recent and continuing range expansion of the South Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi poses a significant threat to malaria control and elimination in sub-Saharan Africa. Fortunately, there are no records of this species in the southern African region to date, but this scenario will likely change and could lead to an increase in the incidence of urban malaria in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c7a53fd3ccb4f1abf0e3b3072a8a34a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c7a53fd3ccb4f1abf0e3b3072a8a34a2025-08-20T02:02:44ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892025-05-011215/610.17159/sajs.2025/18359Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South AfricaMaria L. Kaiser0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4795-2848Yael Dahan-Moss1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3792-9708Lizette L. Koekemoer2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-6345Mbavhalelo B. Shandukani3Delenesaw Yewhalaw4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2907-9360Basil D. Brooke5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8857-13041.Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2.Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa1.Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2.Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa1.Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2.Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDirectorate: Malaria and Other Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa1.Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; 2.School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia1.Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2.Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Owing to the scarcity of malaria vector mosquito populations in urban settings, urban malaria is rare in South Africa. Anopheles stephensi, an efficient urban malaria vector in South Asia and parts of the Arabian Peninsula (excluding southwest Saudi Arabia and Yemen), has recently expanded its range into African countries and territories where it has not previously occurred. The central hypothesis to explain the recent dispersal of An. stephensi out of its endemic range and into sub-Saharan Africa is via shipping, making seaports especially vulnerable to introductions of this species, although land crossings and general population movements are likely important as well. Based on an analysis of global shipping networks, South Africa is at risk of invasion by this species, although it has not been recorded in southern Africa to date. The World Health Organization has issued an alert for the spread of An. stephensi, including guidelines for surveillance in non-invaded areas, territories or countries that could be at risk. The aim of this review was to assess the risk of An. stephensi to South Africa and provide recommendations for vigilance and vector surveillance. We conclude that the range expansion of An. stephensi poses a significant threat to malaria control and elimination in southern Africa, and recommend regularised surveillance in at-risk areas, further engagement with existing multisectoral and cross-border initiatives, the mitigation of malaria in urban planning, and community awareness concerning water storage practices. Significance: The recent and continuing range expansion of the South Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi poses a significant threat to malaria control and elimination in sub-Saharan Africa. Fortunately, there are no records of this species in the southern African region to date, but this scenario will likely change and could lead to an increase in the incidence of urban malaria in South Africa and neighbouring countries. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18359urban malariamalaria riskAnopheles stephensi |
| spellingShingle | Maria L. Kaiser Yael Dahan-Moss Lizette L. Koekemoer Mbavhalelo B. Shandukani Delenesaw Yewhalaw Basil D. Brooke Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa South African Journal of Science urban malaria malaria risk Anopheles stephensi |
| title | Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa |
| title_full | Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa |
| title_short | Anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in South Africa |
| title_sort | anopheles stephensi and the risk of increased urban malaria in south africa |
| topic | urban malaria malaria risk Anopheles stephensi |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18359 |
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