Does climate change influence the spread of malaria in Benin? Insights from ecological niche modeling for surveillance efforts

TL;DR

This study uses ecological niche modeling to show how climate change may increase malaria risk in Benin by expanding the habitat of the Anopheles gambiae mosquito.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how climate change could reshape malaria risk zones in Benin using ecological niche modeling.

Findings

High-risk malaria areas currently cover nearly all departments in Benin, especially in the south.

By 2055, climate change is projected to expand high-risk zones to northern regions like Collines and parts of Donga.

Anopheles gambiae is expected to spread further due to climate change, increasing malaria transmission risk.

Abstract

Malaria is a severe and endemic disease, remaining one of the most prevalent tropical illnesses and a leading cause of death among children aged <5 y. Anopheles gambiae, the primary vector of malaria in Benin, plays a critical role in its transmission. This study aims to contribute to the health protection of populations in Benin by assessing the risk of vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria, in the context of climate change.

Using the Maxent algorithm for ecological niche modeling, we mapped the distribution of A. gambiae, a highly effective vector of Plasmodium parasites.

Our findings revealed that high-risk areas for malaria cover nearly all departments of Benin, with the majority of southern departments—Mono, Littoral, Couffo, Ouémé, Plateau and Zou—identified as high-risk zones. Projections for 2055 under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate scenarios indicate a significant expansion of high-risk areas, extending to Collines and parts of Donga, Borgou and Atacora.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate the spread of A. gambiae, increasing the disease risk across the country. These results are crucial for guiding policymakers in Benin to mitigate the current impact of malaria and implement preventative measures to address future risks.

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