Uganda has joined the rest of the world to observe World Mosquito Day, which remembers the important discovery in 1897 by Dr. Ronald Ross that mosquitoes spread malaria. This breakthrough helped lead to the development of tools like mosquito nets and malaria medicines.
Malaria Still a Big Problem in Uganda
Even with progress, malaria remains a serious problem, especially in Africa. According to Krystal Birungi, a mosquito expert at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, malaria causes over 200 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths every year, mostly in Africa.
In Uganda, around 16,000 people die from malaria each year, mostly young children and pregnant women.
Mosquitoes Becoming Resistant to Insecticides
Uganda has used tools like mosquito nets and indoor spraying, but these methods are becoming less effective. Mosquitoes are starting to resist insecticides, meaning they survive sprays that used to kill them.
To fight this, Uganda is now using newer mosquito nets with stronger insecticides — the first new kind in over 40 years — in areas where resistance is growing.
Malaria Parasites Also Becoming Resistant to Medicine
It’s not just the mosquitoes that are changing — the malaria parasite itself is becoming harder to treat. Over time, the parasite has become resistant to older drugs like chloroquine and Fansidar. Now, even the current medicines, called ACTs, are starting to lose their power in some areas.
Vaccines Help, But Are Not Enough
There are now malaria vaccines available, especially for children. But experts say they are not enough on their own. Vaccines are expensive and need several doses, so they must be used together with other tools like nets and medicines.
“Vaccines are helpful, but we need to use everything together to beat malaria,” says Birungi.
Gene Drive: A New Way to Stop Mosquitoes
A research group called Target Malaria is working on a new technology called gene drive. This involves changing the genes of certain mosquito species so they can’t reproduce as much. The goal is to reduce the number of mosquitoes that spread malaria — especially three main species found in Africa.
“If we can reduce how many eggs mosquitoes lay, we can lower their numbers and stop malaria from spreading,” says Birungi.
This method only targets the few mosquito species that spread malaria, not all 3,500 types found in the world.
The Fight Needs All Tools
Birungi says that no single solution will end malaria. The only way to succeed is to use everything together — including vaccines, nets, medicines, sprays, and new tools like gene drive.
“We’ve been fighting malaria for decades. We’ve made progress, but we need a stronger and more united effort especially for our children.”
As Uganda marks World Mosquito Day, the message is clear: we can beat malaria, but only with innovation, teamwork, and persistence.
About Target Malaria
Target Malaria is a non-profit research group working to create new genetic tools to reduce the number of mosquitoes that spread malaria — helping to save lives in a sustainable way.
