Experts say that global warming is also leading to the increase in the malaria breeding mosquitoes. Even the modest rise in temperature could lead to further increase in the cases of malaria in the coming areas. .

CJ: Priyanka Thakur , 13 Jul 2008

Global warming has added more crunch to the existing fatal consequences of the increase in the number of malaria cases, thereby fuelling the need for lifesaving vaccinations to those in need, says an expert. Experts are concerned that the drastic changes in the environment may lead to further increase in such cases in the coming years.

Dr Sylvain Fleury, chief scientific officer at Mymetics said, "Forty-one per cent of the human race lives in areas of high malaria transmission." Mymetics, a Swiss vaccine biotech, is currently developing a vaccine with the potential to control malaria in developing countries.

"Because Europe, North America, and North Asia are now significantly colder than regions of high malaria incidence, developed nations have felt immune from the malaria threat, but that sense may soon be upended," he added.

It has been studied that even a modest temperature increase can extend the proliferation of malaria-bearing mosquitoes.

Therefore, with the rise in temperature, billions of people could get clasped in regions of high malaria incidence.

"The best way to prevent the spread of malaria into warming areas of the globe is to find a solution before the situation worsens," said Dr Fleury.

"If we can begin to curb the spread of malaria in high threat areas, the eventual reach of the disease will be seriously limited," he added.

Areas like Peru, which has eradicated the disease around 40 years ago have again been witnessing the cases due to global warming. America saw 1,337 cases, including eight deaths, as recently as 2002 - the importance of developing a vaccine for the disease is becoming more and more urgent.

（source: http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=137538）