Africa’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is at risk as climate change, population growth, and funding gaps threaten to undo years of progress. A new model by Boston Consulting Group and the Malaria Atlas Project warns that climate change could lead to 554,000 additional malaria deaths between 2030 and 2049, driven mostly by extreme weather.
“Shifting weather patterns are expanding malaria zones and affecting the most vulnerable, especially young children,” says Dr. Patric Epopa, a leading researcher at Burkina Faso’s Health Sciences Research Institute. Despite the use of insecticide-treated nets and effective treatments, malaria remains a top killer in many African countries, including Burkina Faso.
Resistance to insecticides and environmental changes are limiting the impact of current tools. To address the growing threat, scientists are exploring new solutions like gene drive technology, which targets malaria-spreading mosquitoes. “It’s not a silver bullet, but gene drive could drastically cut transmission,” says Epopa.
In 2023, Africa accounted for 95% of global malaria cases and 97% of deaths, according to the WHO. “Without urgent, coordinated action, we risk losing an entire generation,” warns Epopa.
