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May 30, 2017
JAMSTEC
Nagasaki University
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Japan International Cooperation Agency

Impact of Climate Variability on Malaria Incidence in South Africa
- Link of El Niño/La Niña and Indian Ocean Subtropical Dipole with Malaria Incidence -

Overview

Investigations on association between malaria incidence and spatio-temporal climate variations in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa, suggested that climate anomalies in tropical Pacific and the southern Indian Ocean bring changes in precipitation and temperature in South Africa, which would affect malaria incidence rates a few months later, according to a research led by Takayoshi Ikeda at the Application Laboratory of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC: Asahiko Taira, President) and Professor Noboru Minakawa at Nagasaki University. The project has been carried out in cooperation with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a project for Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS).

In South Africa, epidemics of infectious diseases, such as malaria, cholera and pneumonia are threatening people’s health. In Limpopo, malaria is most prevalent during the local rainy season (from September to May). However, the spatio-temporal distribution of malaria, and its relationship with climatic factors has yet to be fully understood.

To test whether malaria incidence anomalies were associated with local and regional climate factors, and large-scale climate phenomena, the scientists investigated the relationship among monthly malaria incidence of Limpopo and temperature and precipitation at local and regional scales, and sea surface temperature (SST) at a global scale. Their analysis found significant associations among incidence rate anomalies and climate patterns. A high incidence of malaria during the pre-peak rainy season (Sep-Nov) was associated with the climate phenomenon La Niña and cooler than normal air temperatures over southern Africa. There was also higher than normal precipitation over neighboring countries, two to six months prior to malaria incidences. In contrast, during the peak rainy season (Dec-Feb), high incidence events were associated with positive phase of Indian Ocean Subtropical Dipole with warmer temperatures and higher precipitation than normal in neighboring countries observed two months prior to increased malaria incidences.

Such a lagged association between climate and malaria incidence suggests that management plans for high-risk malaria areas should consider not only local climate patterns but those of neighboring countries as well. These findings highlight the need to strengthen cross-border control of malaria to minimize its spread. In addition, seasonal climate prediction in the region would help to build an early warning system of malaria epidemics several months prior to their outbreaks.

This study project has been supported by SATREPS. The above results will be published in Scientific Reports on May 30, 2017 (18:00 JST).

Title: Seasonally lagged effects of climatic factors on malaria incidence in South Africa
Authors: Takayoshi Ikeda1, Swadhin K. Behera1, Yushi Morioka1, Noboru Minakawa2, Masahiro Hashizume2, Ataru Tsuzuki2, Rajendra Maharaj3, Philip Kruger4
Affiliations: 1. Application Laboratory, JAMSTEC 2. Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University 3. Malaria Research Programme, Medical Research Council 4. Malaria Control Programme, Limpopo Department of Health

Figure 1

Figure 1. Divided into five municipal districts and subdivided into 25 local municipalities, Limpopo shares international borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. La Niña or Indian Ocean Subtropical Dipole events will increase rainfall in South Africa, which leads to increased mosquito abundance. When a female mosquito takes a blood meal from an infected human, the parasite develops in the mosquito. Then, when the infected mosquito takes a blood meal from a susceptible human, he/she gets infected. The parasite then develops in the human, making him/her sick, and then requires medical treatment.

Figure 2

Figure 2. a) Monthly mean and standard deviation of malaria incidence rate (% per 1000 person-years); b) Precipitation (mm: solid line) and mean temperature (°C: dashed line) in Limpopo for 1998 to 2014.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Self-organized map for malaria incidence rate anomalies in Limpopo with three patterns. Cells represent local municipalities of Limpopo. Higher variability of incidence rate than the average is observed in the northeastern part of the region.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Composites of precipitation (mm: shaded), mean temperature (°C: contour), and wind (vector) in southern Africa for a) SON at 6-month lag, and b) DJF at 2-month lag. Differences in composite anomalies between the high and low malaria incidence years are shown here.

Figure 5

Figure 5. Composites of SST (°C) in a) the tropical eastern Pacific for SON at 0-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month lags, and b) in the southern Indian Ocean for DJF at 0- to 3-month lags. Differences in composite anomalies between the high and low malaria incidence years are shown here.

Contacts:

(For this study)
Takayoshi Ikeda, Project Research Scientist, Application Laboratory, JAMSTEC
Noboru Minakawa, Professor, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University
(For SATREPS)
Department of International Affairs, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Health Team 2, Health Group 1, Human Development Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
(For press release)
Tsuyoshi Noguchi, Press Division, Public Relations Department, JAMSTEC
Yusuke Takakura, Center for Public Relations Strategy, Nagasaki University
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