Persistently high proportions of plasmodium-infected Anopheles funestus mosquitoes in two villages in the Kilombero valley, South-Eastern Tanzania

Abstract

In contexts where individual vector species mediate most of the pathogen transmission, it may be most appropriate to pursue a species-focused approach to better understand the ecology of the dominant vectors and target them with effective interventions to suppress transmission. Despite the ongoing efforts on tackling malaria in the two study villages, there is still persistently high <i>Plasmodium</i> infection prevalence in local populations of <i>An. funestus</i>, which now carry ~97% of all malaria infections and mediates intense year-round transmission. Further reduction in malaria burden in these or other similar settings requires effective targeting of <i>An. funestus.</i>