UC Malaria Research and Control Group

News:

About Malaria

Malaria, one of the world's oldest and deadliest diseases, kills a child in Africa every 10 to 15 seconds, or some 8000 children per day. Globally, this mosquito-borne disease causes more than 500 million acute illnesses and some 2.5 to 3 million deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 90 percent of the global incidence of malaria occurs in Africa, home of the three most effective vectors. Nine out of 10 deaths are among sub-Saharan children below age 5.

Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In Africa, Anopheles gambiae is the most efficient vector for the disease.

Program Faculty and Collaborators
MRCG is a 21-member group comprised of leading UC mosquito vector biologists and California mosquito abatement experts. UC campuses represented are UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Irvine and UCLA.

Current Activities
Current activities include African partnerships, basic research, applied research and education.

• Message from UC MRCG Director
  Medical entomologist Gregory Lanzaro says UC MRCG is "firmly committed to defeating the most formidable and challenging mosquito-borne diseases. We believe that the realization of this goal will require close collaboration between academic research scientists and 'on-the-ground' mosquito control practitioners."
• Message from MVCAC Director
  Christopher Voight of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California says the state's mosquito abatement experts are poised and ready to work in Africa. The program, widely regarded as one of the most effective in the world, has greatly limited or eliminated the transmission of once-common mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria.

Our Brochure

The UC Malaria Research and Control Group compiled a brochure describing who we are and what we do.

• Malaria Research and Control in Africa: Information about the Program (PDF)
• Who We Are: Information about the Program Faculty and Collaborators (PDF)