Have you heard about the new malaria study in Kikuyu?
Malaria in Kikuyu? That’s surprising! I always thought high-altitude areas like Kikuyu were safe.
Dr. Amina: That was the assumption, but new research by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) has found evidence of malaria transmission there.
People in Kikuyu are actually getting malaria locally?
That’s the big question. The study tested 838 people with suspected malaria, and 5.6% of them had the disease. Half had recently traveled to malaria-endemic areas, but the other half had no travel history. That suggests local transmission is happening.
That’s alarming! How did malaria-carrying mosquitoes even reach Kikuyu?
Climate change is likely a key factor. The researchers found mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria, in areas like Karai Rurii and Ondiri Swamps. Rising temperatures are expanding mosquito habitats, making it possible for them to survive and breed at higher altitudes.
That makes sense. I read that global warming is pushing mosquitoes into places that were once too cold for them.
So, are we looking at a new malaria hotspot in Central Kenya?
It’s still early to say, but the presence of malaria and competent mosquito vectors suggests an increasing risk. In the past, malaria outbreaks have been reported in high-altitude regions like Kericho and Nandi, which were once considered malaria-free.
That’s concerning. If Kikuyu is becoming a malaria zone, what does that mean for prevention efforts?
Dr. Amina: The study highlights the need for updated malaria control strategies. People in these areas haven’t traditionally used mosquito nets or repellents because malaria wasn’t a threat. That might need to change.
Are our current malaria treatments still effective?
Yes, and that’s the good news. The researchers tested artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), Kenya’s main malaria treatment, and found it was still highly effective. Every patient in Kikuyu who was treated with ACT recovered fully, with no signs of drug resistance.
That’s a relief. In some parts of Africa and Asia, malaria parasites have started resisting ACT, right?
Exactly. But for now, ACT remains effective in Kenya, which is great. However, we need more research to understand whether malaria is being transmitted locally or if these cases are mostly imported.
What should people in Kikuyu do in the meantime?
Dr. Amina: Awareness is key. If you experience fever, chills, or body aches, get tested for malaria even if you don’t think you’ve been exposed. We should also push for increased surveillance and vector control measures in Kikuyu.
Sounds like we need to act fast. If climate change is making malaria a threat in highland areas, we have to stay ahead of it.
