Zee Media Bureau
Washington: Scientists predict that increase in global warming would mean spread of the deadly disease malaria to higher elevations.
According to the new research, climate warms leads to a significant increase in malaria cases exposing millions in previously unaffected areas of Asia and Africa to the deadly disease.
The researchers found that the changing climate will allow malaria to move into higher altitudes during warmer seasons and become permanently resident in larger areas.
It is a major area of concern because once malaria moves into new high-altitude areas, local people may be at risk for severe complications and death as they lack protection from the disease.
Malaria is an infectious mosquito-borne disease. It is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which infects red blood cells. It can be prevented with nets, insecticides and medicines.
Malaria is a top killer of children, particularly in Africa where it takes the life of one child every minute, according to the World Health Organization, which counted some 207 million malaria infections in 2012.
(With Agency inputs)
