Population and the Environment - (Malaria - Communicable disease 🦟)

Question 1

What is malaria transmitted by?

Answer 1

Mosquitos.

Question 2

Where are most cases of malaria around the world?

Answer 2

Sub-Saharan Africa.

90% of cases are in Africa.

Question 3

How many cases of malaria were there world wide in 2015?

Answer 3

200 million.

Question 4

when are most cases of Malaria?

Answer 4

At the peak of or just after the rainy season.

Question 5

True or false - In tropical regions there is risk of malaria all year round due to minimal seasonal variation.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

What physical factors effect the incidence of Malaria?

Answer 6

Mosquitos that carry malaria can only survive in warm countries e.g. African countries.

Higher temperatures decrease the time it takes for the parasite to develop in the mosquito, increasing the likelihood of infection. Mosquitos also breed and feed more when it is warmer.

Mosquitos breed in still bodies of freshwater e.g. pools or swamps. Rainy season creates low lying wet lands, providing an ideal habitat for breeding.

Question 7

What are the socio-economic factors effecting the incidence of malaria?

Answer 7

Limited health education - people are not informed how to avoid malaria e.g. by using bed nets.

Low incomes may mean people cannot afford treatment or means of prevention.

In areas where health care is limited there are more infected people and more sources of the parasite for mosquitos to pick up and transmit.

Poor health reduces the bodies ability to fight infection.

Poor housing quality e.g. windows and doors that do not fit well put people at risk.

Human activities such as digging irrigation or canals can increase the number of breeding sites.

Question 8

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Answer 8

Fever, chills, nausea and headaches.

Question 9

What can severe cases of malaria without treatment lead to?

Answer 9

Organ failure, respiratory problems, coma and death.

Question 10

Apart from physical symptoms, what impact does malaria have in the well-being of individuals?

Answer 10

Loss of income from inability to work and the financial cost of treatment and hospital visits.

Children may have extended absences from school affecting their education and future job prospects.

Repeated bouts can affect children’s development.

Can hinder a countries development, the government has to spend money on treating the disease and productivity fall when workers fall ill. Less money to spend improving living standards.

Question 11

In 2015 what 3 goals did the WHO set for 2030 with Malaria?

Answer 11

Reduce malaria incidence rates and mortality by at least 90%.

Eliminate malaria in at least 35 countries

Prevent malaria returning in countries that are currently malaria free.

Question 12

What is the most effective strategy for reducing malaria?

Answer 12

Get rid of the mosquitos that carry it.

Question 13

What are the methods for getting rid of the mosquitos?

Answer 13

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) - spraying the walls with insecticide.

Bed nets and spraying bed nets with insecticide.

Giving anti malarial drugs or vaccines to vulnerable people e.g. pregnant women and children.

Monitoring the breeding of mosquitos so it is known when is the best time to use insecticides.

Improving diagnosis for prompt treatments.

Question 14

What are the negatives of IRS?

Answer 14

Must be repeated multiple times a year.

The chemicals have a negative effect on peoples health and can cause cancers.

Mosquitos can evolve and become resistant to insecticides meaning new ones have to be developed.

Question 15

Whilst effective what is the issue with the strategies?

Answer 15

Most effected live in remote areas with limited access to health care.

Question 16

What significant financial commitment did the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce in 2016 to combat malaria?

Answer 16

In January 2016, the Foundation pledged £3 billion over five years to support global efforts in reducing malaria deaths by 90% by 2030.

GOV.UK

Question 17

How much did the Bill and Malinda Foundation donate to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 2000 for malaria research?

Answer 17

In 2000, the Foundation provided a $40 million grant to develop new treatments and preventive measures for malaria.

Gates Foundation

Question 18

What was the amount of the grant given by the Bill and Malinda Gates foundation to support the Malaria Vaccine Initiative in 1999?

Answer 18

In 1999, the Foundation donated $50 million to advance the development of a malaria vaccine.

Gates Foundation

Question 19

How much did the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation invest over four years to end malaria and neglected tropical diseases, as announced in June 2022?

Answer 19

In June 2022, the Foundation committed $140 million over four years to support research and initiatives aimed at ending malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Question 20

What was the Foundation’s contribution to malaria control efforts in collaboration with Malaria No More UK in 2019?

Answer 20

In October 2019, the Foundation awarded an $8.27 million grant to Malaria No More UK to bolster political and financial support for malaria eradication.

Gates Foundation

Question 21

How did the Foundation’s funding impact global malaria cases and mortality rates since 2000?

Answer 21

Since 2000, increased funding and effective interventions have prevented 2.2 billion malaria cases and saved 12.7 million lives globally.

Gates Foundation

Question 22

What warning did Bill Gates issue regarding funding cuts for malaria research and control?

Answer 22

Bill Gates cautioned that reducing funding could lead to a resurgence of malaria to peak levels within a decade, undoing progress made.

Vox

Question 23

How does the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation approach malaria eradication?

Answer 23

The Foundation focuses on expanding access to existing tools, utilizing data for targeted interventions, investing in innovative research, and advocating for sustained support.

Gates Foundation

Question 24

What is the estimated global impact of malaria as of 2023?

Answer 24

In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases worldwide, resulting in 597,000 deaths, with 94% of cases and 95% of deaths occurring in Africa.

Gates Foundation

Question 25

What is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's ultimate goal concerning malaria?

Answer 25

The Foundation aims for the complete eradication of malaria, viewing it as the only sustainable solution to address the disease's global impact. ## Footnote Gates Foundation

Question 26

How have the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WHO contributed to malaria mitigation on a global scale?

Answer 26

They have invested heavily in long-term eradication strategies, including the development and distribution of malaria vaccines (e.g. RTS,S/AS01), funding vector control programmes like insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS), and supporting genetic research into mosquito modification. These aim to reduce the transmission and future occurrence of malaria globally.

Question 27

In what ways have the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WHO supported adaptation strategies in malaria-endemic regions?

Answer 27

They’ve funded community health education, training local health workers, and improving surveillance systems to help populations live with and manage the risks of malaria. Support has also included access to rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) and affordable treatment (e.g. artemisinin-based therapies) to reduce mortality and allow faster responses to outbreaks.

Question 28

How has the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed to the fight against malaria through education and training?

Answer 28

The Foundation has invested heavily in training health workers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria. * By 2020, the Foundation had trained over 1 million community health workers across Africa. * It supports local health systems by funding educational campaigns to raise awareness about bed net use, symptoms, and prevention. ## Footnote The training of community health workers is critical in areas with high malaria prevalence.

Question 29

What role has the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation played in malaria-related research and development technologies (RDT)?

Answer 29

The Foundation has funded cutting-edge RDTs to improve early and accurate diagnosis of malaria. * It invested over $200 million into rapid diagnostic tests that provide results in under 15 minutes. * These RDTs are crucial for resource-limited settings, especially where laboratory access is scarce. ## Footnote Rapid diagnostic tests are essential for timely treatment and controlling malaria outbreaks.

Question 30

In what ways has the Gates Foundation supported malaria treatment as a form of adaptation?

Answer 30

The Foundation has supported the development and distribution of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which are the most effective malaria treatments. * Between 2000 and 2022, it contributed over $2 billion to malaria treatment initiatives. * It subsidised over 1.4 billion ACT doses, improving accessibility in low-income regions. ## Footnote ACTs are recommended by WHO as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria.

Question 31

Why is the Gates Foundation’s approach to malaria considered a form of adaptation in human geography?

Answer 31

Adaptation refers to how humans adjust to reduce the impacts of a hazard—in this case, infectious disease. * The Gates Foundation’s actions (e.g., funding RDTs, training workers, supporting treatments) increase resilience in affected populations. * Rather than eliminating the disease, these measures help manage and live with malaria more safely and effectively, especially in tropical, low-income countries. ## Footnote This approach highlights the importance of resilience in public health strategies.

Question 32

What measurable impact has the Gates Foundation had on global malaria outcomes?

Answer 32

Since the early 2000s, its funding has helped reduce global malaria mortality rates by over 60%. * In sub-Saharan Africa, child mortality from malaria has dropped significantly due to improved treatment and prevention access, much of which has been funded by the Foundation. * The Foundation aims for malaria eradication by 2040, in partnership with the Roll Back Malaria Initiative and WHO. ## Footnote The partnership with global health organizations enhances the effectiveness of malaria control efforts.

Question 33

How has the Gates Foundation supported Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) to mitigate malaria?

Answer 33

The Foundation has funded large-scale IRS programs to reduce mosquito populations in malaria-prone areas. * Contributed over $29 million towards improved, long-lasting insecticides for IRS. * IRS can reduce malaria transmission by up to 90% in high-risk areas, especially when coverage exceeds 80% of households. * Works with partners like PATH and Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) to scale IRS solutions. ## Footnote IRS is a method of controlling malaria transmission by spraying insecticides on the walls and surfaces of homes.

Question 34

How is the Gates Foundation involved in malaria vaccine development and distribution?

Answer 34

The Foundation has been a major funder of the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine—the first approved malaria vaccine. * Invested over $155 million in clinical trials and rollout in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. * RTS,S reduces clinical malaria cases by ~40% in young children. * In 2021, the WHO recommended its wider use, supported by Gavi (also funded by the Gates Foundation). ## Footnote RTS,S/AS01 is the first malaria vaccine to receive regulatory approval and is a significant step in malaria control.

Question 35

In what ways has the Gates Foundation invested in genetic modification to fight malaria?

Answer 35

The Foundation funds gene drive research to reduce or eliminate mosquito populations that transmit malaria. * Supports editing genes of Anopheles mosquitoes to make them infertile or unable to carry the parasite through Target Malaria. * Provided over $75 million towards genetic control research in 2022. * Aims to provide long-term, cost-effective mitigation with minimal ecological disruption. ## Footnote Gene drive technology can spread genetic modifications rapidly through wild populations.

Question 36

How has the Gates Foundation used insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to mitigate malaria risk?

Answer 36

It has helped fund the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) in malaria-endemic regions. * Over 200 million LLINs have been distributed with Foundation support. * Nets can reduce child malaria mortality by 20% and decrease transmission by 50% when used widely. * Works closely with The Global Fund and UNICEF to deliver nets efficiently. ## Footnote ITNs are a critical tool in malaria prevention, providing a physical barrier against mosquito bites.

Question 37

Why are IRS, vaccines, genetic modification, and ITNs considered forms of mitigation rather than adaptation?

Answer 37

These strategies aim to reduce or eliminate the hazard itself—in this case, the spread of malaria—rather than just cope with its effects. * Mitigation reduces the overall burden of disease, helping to break transmission cycles. * In contrast, adaptation involves managing the impacts (e.g., improving healthcare systems or awareness). ## Footnote Mitigation focuses on preventing the problem, while adaptation focuses on living with the problem.