Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Study Supports Possible Connection between Climate Change and Malaria Rise

Since the 1970s, the highlands of East Africa have witnessed a surge in malaria outbreaks. Because the mosquitoes that carry the disease do not thrive in cooler climes some researchers have suggested a link between this rise and climate change. A 2002 study found no such connection, but a new analysis of the data--including five more years of records--seems to show that a modest increase in temperature could lead to a population boom in mosquitoes and, therefore, malaria.

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British Medical Journal ran a story about 10 years ago saying that this was coming and even printed topological maps showing the anticipated rise in altitude of the disease. Guess which highlands were on that map?

At present, with malaria still relatively restricted to hot weather lowlands, worldwide malaria causes between 1.5 million to 2.7 million deaths each year.

More than half a million of those are malnourished children who, the World Health Organization states, with enough food, could survive.

And oh, but there is SOME good news here -- the swamp on which was established Washington D.C. will be a PERFECT breeding ground for becoming a new malaria basin.

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