Why african countries are major cause of malaria ?

The countries it affects are tropical countries near the equator, most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. The problem is further compounded with the fact that unlike other places away from the equator, most of these places are warm throughout the year, making it a prime ecosystem for the mosquito. Although even certain areas of Asia are in the “Malaria Belt”, the disease burden (85–90 percent) is borne by Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nearly 90% of the global malaria deaths in the world happen in sub Saharan Africa owing to infections from Plasmodium Falciparum, the deadliest of four malarial parasites. This is again due to the widespread occurrence of the most effective vector, Anopheles gambiae mosquito in this region which cannot be controlled easily.

Seasonal factors namely temperature, humidity and precipitation play a great role in proliferation of mosquitoes and diseases associated with it. There is a significant association between climatic variables and malaria incidence in Africa. Wetter and warmer conditions provide more favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. Heating up of East Africa also contributed to the rise in incidences of malaria. Apart from climatic changes, various socio-economic factors of African countries also play a major role in causing malaria.

Image courtesy: https://theconversation.com