Accra: Professor Yaw Asare Afrane, a medical entomologist at the Department of Medical Microbiology of the University of Ghana Medical School, has raised alarms over the escalating resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides, attributing it primarily to the extensive use of agricultural pesticides. He highlighted that this resistance is undermining the effectiveness of conventional malaria prevention measures.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Afrane explained that the pesticides used by farmers to eliminate crop pests often wash into nearby water bodies, which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This early exposure to chemicals allows mosquitoes to develop a tolerance to insecticides even before they reach adulthood. Prof. Afrane shared these insights during an inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana in Accra, speaking on the topic: 'Fighting the Bite: Human Activities and the Changing Landscape of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Africa.'
In his lecture, Prof. Afrane elaborated on how mosquitoes develop resistance through biological mechanisms, such as producing enzymes that detoxify insecticides or undergoing genetic mutations. These adaptations, including 'knockdown resistance,' enable mosquitoes to survive despite exposure to insecticides. He noted that mosquitoes' rapid reproduction facilitates these adaptations, allowing them to outsmart current insecticide treatments, including those used on bed nets.
Prof. Afrane also emphasized the role of human activities in altering mosquito behavior and creating breeding environments, citing research across Ghana. He pointed out that informal urban agriculture, deforestation, and climate change are contributing to mosquito abundance and malaria transmission. Additionally, stagnant water in urban areas, often found in discarded containers and poorly managed irrigation systems, serves as breeding sites.
The lecture highlighted the potential for climate change to expand mosquito populations into high-altitude regions of Ghana, which previously had low mosquito presence. Prof. Afrane also mentioned the detection of invasive mosquito species in Ghana and the need for control measures against these new threats.
Calling for collective action, Prof. Afrane stressed the importance of improving sanitation, urban planning, and environmental management to reduce mosquito breeding sites. He advocated for stricter enforcement of environmental sanitation by local authorities and encouraged investment in research and training in mosquito control.
Professor Nana Aba Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who chaired the lecture, underscored the influence of urban farming, deforestation, and poor drainage on mosquito-borne diseases. She urged public support for scientific research and personal responsibility in maintaining clean environments, emphasizing that mosquito control requires collective efforts beyond scientific and governmental interventions.
Prof. Afrane's contributions to research and policy have been instrumental in informing malaria control strategies and interventions across Ghana and Africa, noted Prof. Amfo, commending his work's impact on public health.