Global migration map to help fight malaria

Researchers have developed a map based on the census data of 40 different countries that can track the flow of internal human migration in low- and middle-income countries as well as help in the global fight against infectious diseases like malaria, reports IANS.

The map shows webs of connectivity within countries across three continents – Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean – and indicates the high and low flows of people moving between different locations. "Understanding how people are moving around within countries is vital in combating infectious diseases like malaria," said Andy Tatem, Professor and Director of WorldPop project at the University of Southampton.

"The parasite which causes the disease can be quickly reintroduced to a malariafree area by highly mobile populations," Tatem added.

The map will greatly aid disease control and elimination planning on global and regional scales, the study noted. Human mobility may continue to rise and thus create a range of impacts, such as invasive species, drug resistance spread and disease pandemics.

Having accurate overview of how different regions of countries are connected by human movement aids effective disease control planning and helps target resources, such as treated bed nets or community health workers, in the right places.