Malaria has been a cause of concern for many countries across the globe. The disease, also known as breakbone fever, is vector-borne, and its main carriers are mosquitoes. Biologists believe that mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite cannot travel long distances. This suggests that the main reason the disease spreads to nearby areas is human movement.
People move from one area to another for work or family reasons. If a particular area is a malaria hotspot, a visitor is likely to become infected. That person then brings the disease back home, where it is spread by local mosquitoes.
Since Kenya has been a major malaria sufferer, researchers set out to identify the region's main hotspots. For this purpose, research was conducted on people in Kenya with the help of their phones. The phone company assigned unique IDs to the participants. Using these IDs, the researchers could monitor calls, texts, location and other data for a number of people. Analysis of the data helped them map the areas where people were suffering most. After a year of research, progress has been commendable, and most of the disease hotspots have been identified. This will help the government take preventive measures accordingly.