News

The future of malaria control is uncertain, according to world-leading academic

(25 April 2013)

Professor Steve Lyndsey

Steve Lindsay, Professor in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, is a world-leading authority on the control of malaria.

Commenting on World Malaria Day (25 April), he said:

“This millennium we have witnessed unprecedented success in the global battle against malaria. For the first time in a generation malaria is on the decline in tropical Africa. This extraordinary achievement has resulted from the massive roll-out of insecticide-treated bednets, spraying homes with insecticide and the provision of safe and effective antimalarial drugs. As a consequence, malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000.

“The future of malaria control is now uncertain due to two major factors. The first is that we have recently seen a rise in mosquitoes resistant to insecticides and parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs. So in future, we may lack effective insecticides and treatment for the disease threatening the hard-won gains made over the last decade”.

“The second factor is the so-called ‘donor fatigue’ that we have experienced due to the international recession. Governments have tightened funding for overseas aid and charities have seen a significant drop in funding. This will undoubtedly threaten the future of malarial control.”

Steve Lindsay was a member of the team which first demonstrated that insecticide treated bednets (ITNs) reduced deaths from malaria in African children.

Over the past thirty years, Professor Lindsay and his team have carried out studies in Africa to look at how malaria and other vector borne diseases are controlled. Studies conducted by the team have led to the development of novel tools for vector control, and this work has influenced international policy on the control of malaria and other important diseases, and saved thousands of lives. 

Professor Lindsay is Chair of the Larval Source Management workstream for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, a global framework for co-ordinated action against malaria which informs international policy.

He also provides support to the World Health Organisation as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, advising on vector control research.