Pakistan sees sharp increase in Malaria cases
The incidence of malaria has significantly increased in Pakistan and Malawi, due to extreme weather conditions, leading to a surge in both infections and fatality according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The organisation has reported that in Pakistan, the number of cases rose to 1.6 million, which is four times higher than the previous year, after devastating floods submerged a third of the country. These alarming figures were released ahead of World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25.
“What we’ve seen in places like Pakistan and Malawi is real evidence of the impact that climate change is having on malaria,” said, Peter Sands, head of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“So you have these extreme weather events, whether flooding in Pakistan, or the cyclone in Malawi, leaving lots of stagnant water around the place.
He further stated that the surge in cases resulting from weather calamities triggered by climate change highlights the urgency to take proactive measures immediately.