Malaria Control in Context
In developing theory for malaria analysts, we start with the premise that the outcomes of malaria control depend on some small but important details that vary by context. The idea is encapusulated in a famous quote from Lewis Hackett:
…malaria is so moulded and altered by local conditions that it becomes a thousand different diseases and epidemiological puzzles. Like chess, it is played with a few pieces, but is capable of an infinite variety of situations. [1]
Here, we develop some mathematical theory to support malaria control that adapts to context. We have identified three relevant areas:
Scaling – The intensity and seasonality of malaria transmission vary from place to place. In a series of essays, we take a biomathematical approach to scaling relationships in malaria epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and control.
Malaria Landscapes & Targeting – Malaria control could be enhanced by targeting interventions spatially. A motivating concept is a malaria landscape, which brings concepts from topology into the study of parasite transmission or mosquito ecology.
Tailoring Vector Control – Vector behaviors and ecology, particularly mosquito dispersal in search of resources and in response to various vector control intervntions.