Dr. Kamunya: Kenya Can Eradicate Malaria – Possible Today

Malaria remains a significant issue for public health in Kenya, even after many years of attempts to manage and eradicate the illness.

As per scientists, malaria continues because of the intricate combination of environmental, societal, and biological elements, along with changing issues like resistance to medications and insecticides, new mosquito carriers, and altering disease trends.

According to a new publication from the Ministry of Health, malaria continues to be among the top reasons for hospital admissions and fatalities in Kenya, with approximately 10,700 deaths linked to the illness in 2021.

In the past five years, the nation has recorded an annual mean of 4.9 million outpatients with malaria, while the occurrence rate rose from 96 to 105 instances for every 1,000 individuals between 2019 and 2023.

As stated by Dr. Stephanie Kamunya, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA) with significant expertise in malaria studies, the spread of malaria across Kenya shows considerable variation. The most severe cases occur in districts adjacent to Lake Victoria, such as Busia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, and Vihiga.

She states, "In this area, the adjusted rate averages 748 cases for every 1,000 individuals. These western regions have consistent, continuous spread throughout the year because of suitable weather factors such as lower elevation, heavy precipitation, and mild temperatures, which all contribute to mosquito reproduction and the persistence of parasites."

She added, "Additional areas with significant disease burden are Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kwale, Turkana, and West Pokot, all reporting an average of 474 new infections per 1,000 individuals. On the other hand, Nairobi is considered free from malaria, and over half of Kenya's regions are currently listed as experiencing minimal or low levels of infection."

Malaria continues to be present in certain areas due to related environmental and societal influences. According to Dr. Kamunya, the spread of malaria depends on three key components: the vector (a mosquito), the parasite itself, and humans who serve as hosts. The mosquito that transmits the disease flourishes in warm, humid settings. Such circumstances are common along lakes and coastlines.

Dr. Kamunya adds, "A growing issue is the identification of new mosquito types, like Anopheles Stephensi, which thrives in city settings and reproduces in artificial containers. This particular type presents a major risk because it could introduce malaria to urban areas where it was once uncommon, making management more challenging."

Historically, dry and semi-dry areas like Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Mandera were not regarded as places with high rates of malaria. Nevertheless, new monitoring data shows a notable rise in malaria cases within these zones. For instance, Turkana experienced almost a doubling of its incidence rate, moving from 100–200 to 200–350 cases for every 1,000 individuals between 2019 and 2023. Regular tracking efforts have additionally identified *Plasmodium vivax*, a type of malaria parasite that was rarely found in Kenya, particularly in these northern regions.

Dr. Kamunya links this pattern to better monitoring and documentation, along with evolving ecological factors such as higher precipitation levels and global warming, which are leading to additional areas where mosquitoes can reproduce.

One significant challenge in combating malaria is the increasing resistance seen in both mosquitoes and the parasite. Insects are gaining immunity against widely applied pesticides, whereas the malaria-causing organisms are showing reduced responsiveness to conventional anti-malarial medications.

We're witnessing resistance to insecticides among disease carriers and to anti-malaria medicines within parasites," says Dr. Kamunya. "This indicates that our conventional methods, such as insecticide-treated bed nets and regular treatments, are losing their effectiveness.

The newest Kenya Malaria Strategy outlines an aggressive objective of cutting malaria cases by 80 percent and fatalities by 90 percent compared to 2023 figures by the year 2027/2028.

Dr. Kamunya stays hopeful for what lies ahead. She states, "Eliminating malaria is achievable, yet it demands creativity, determination from leaders, and teamwork. We require effective monitoring systems, focused actions, and involvement within communities. The vaccine along with innovative prevention methods offer encouragement, but we have to respond swiftly to rising challenges such as new carriers and drug-resistant strains. It’s essential to establish a protective line between these pests and individuals to succeed in this battle." With ongoing funding, breakthroughs, and attention, Kenya has a genuine opportunity to meet its objectives in fighting malaria.

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