Anopheles stephensi

Anopheles stephensi Latest News

Urban malaria, driven largely by the spread of invasive vector Anopheles stephensi in metropolitan areas like Delhi, has emerged as a national concern threatening India’s goal of eliminating the mosquito-borne disease by 2030, according to the Health Ministry’s recently released Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025.

About Anopheles stephensi

• It is an invasive mosquito species originating from parts of Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
• It is a major malaria vector.
• It has recently spread to parts of Africa, posing a growing public-health concern.
• Unlike most malaria vectors, it is adept at colonizing urban environments.
• It can breed in tiny amounts of water year-round and has made a comfortable home in urban areas.
• Throughout its natural range, Anopheles stephensi is an important vector for both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.
• In urban areas, An. stephensi is found throughout the year but is most abundant in the summer months (between June and August), which coincides with the peak period of malaria transmission.

Source: TH

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