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In March 2023, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed the presence of a new mosquito vector in the country called Anopheles stephensi. This was discovered through routine malaria surveillance and vector control monitoring across the country, with samples taken in Tuba and Dansoman in the Greater Accra region.
Anopheles stephensi is a unique mosquito vector that breeds in a wide range of sources such as ponds, swamps, marshes, artificial containers, and other man-made container spots. It can breed in almost all water sources, including those that are not traditional breeding sites for the common Anopheles species, particularly in urban areas.
The vector can survive in high temperatures during the dry season when malaria transmission usually declines, and is known to spread fast and adapt to different climatic conditions, posing challenges to its control. The GHS has therefore urged the public to remove all water collection points in and around their homes and communities to minimize breeding sites for this new mosquito species, as well as cover all water containers to prevent mosquito breeding.
Additionally, households have been advised to use insecticide-treated nets to protect against indoor mosquito bites, use repellents and protective clothing to guard against mosquito bites, and screen doors and windows of rooms to prevent entry by mosquitoes. These measures are essential in preventing the spread of malaria, which is still a major public health concern in Ghana.
