A malaria-transmitting mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, has been spreading rapidly across the African continent. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) is exploring new tools and approaches to mitigate its impact.
While many mosquitoes commonly found in Africa thrive in rural areas during the rainy season, Anopheles stephensi can survive through dry periods and in urban areas, which is changing where malaria occurs. So malaria prevention tools used in the past may not be as effective against this mosquito.
In Ethiopia, PMI and the Ministry of Health’s malaria program are equipping communities with larvicide, an insecticide applied at mosquito breeding sites to kill the mosquito before it can infect people. PMI and partners are also giving residents the knowledge they need to protect themselves.
PMI will continue to work with countries to develop effective ways to detect, monitor, and control Anopheles stephensi to help end malaria.