Scientists in SA targeting the ELIMINATION of malaria (not of mozzies!)

702's Thabo Shole Mashao chats to Ashley Burke, medical entomologist at the Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control at the University of Pretoria.

When we think of mosquitoes, most of us shudder at their annoying whine and biting capability, as well as the impact of the diseases they can spread, particularly  malaria.

Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden, says the World Health Organization (WHO) - in 2023, the continent was home to 94% of malaria cases (246 million) and 95% (569 000) of malaria deaths.

On World Mosquito Day we chat to a medical entomologist about how important the role is that these insects play in the environment.

The Day is really about raising awareness of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and Zika, says the University of Pretoria's Ashley Burke, as well as  commemorating significant discoveries in research.

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"Today, 20 August, is the day that Sir Ronald Ross discovered that the female anopheles mosquito transmits malaria, which was a really big breakthrough."

Ashley Burke, Medical Entomologist - Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control at UP

"It's only the female that takes a blood meal; all male mosquitoes merely take a sugar or a nectar meal."

Ashley Burke, Medical Entomologist - Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control at UP

As such, the male mosquito can play a role as pollinator for certain plants, Burke says.

Mosquitoes are also a food source in the natural cycle, where some larvae suport fish and aquatic organisms, and also feed birds, bats and other insects.

That means eliminating all mosquitoes could disrupt ecosystems.

"Also, if you're taking something out of the ecosystem you're now opening up a gap that something else could fill; so this is the ethical debate that's always on the go."

Ashley Burke, Medical Entomologist - Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control at UP

Medical entomologists serve to bridge the gap between public health, biology and disease prevention, Burke says.

And in South Africa, where malaria is at a very low residual level, they are actually targeting the elimination of the disease.

"We're always trying to come up with innovative ways to control very specific malaria vector species, that's our contribution in the fight against the disease as entomologists."

Ashley Burke, Medical Entomologist - Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control at UP

Scroll up to the audio player to hear more about mosquitoes and the fight against malaria