Ghana urged to broaden mosquito-control efforts beyond malaria

Ghana is being urged to expand its mosquito control strategies beyond the traditional focus on malaria to address the growing threat of other mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue. Health experts marked World Mosquito Day by calling for intensified vector-control interventions to protect public health.

Dr. Hilarius Abiwu, Programme Manager of the National Malaria Elimination Programme at the Ghana Health Service, noted that dengue is emerging as a significant concern. In 2024, Ghana recorded 206 confirmed dengue cases from 1,471 suspected cases, with the disease detected in 11 of the country's 16 regions. Dengue symptoms, such as fever, can be mistaken for malaria, but patients do not respond to anti-malaria treatments.

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dengue was emerging as a mosquito-borne disease of concern in the country.

Unlike Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit malaria and primarily bite at night, Aedes mosquitoes transmit dengue and are active during the day. This difference means interventions like insecticide-treated nets, effective against malaria, offer limited protection against dengue. Dr. Abiwu stressed the importance of public attention to environmental sanitation and eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites around homes.

Professor Kingsley Badu of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) highlighted the need to understand different mosquito species and their behaviors for effective prevention. He called for improved sanitation, strategies to combat insecticide resistance, and sustained interventions. The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) also emphasized the need for renewed investment in science, innovation, and public information to strengthen Africa's fight against evolving mosquito-borne diseases.

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Despite scientific advances that had significantly improved the prevention and control of diseases such as malaria, millions of people across Africa remained at risk as mosquito-borne disease threats continued to evolve.