Icipe scientists find invasive weed helps spread of malaria

A highly invasive weed found in several parts of Kenya has the potential of increasing incidence of malaria, a new study shows, raising the risk of rolling back gains against the killer disease.

A study by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) has found that famine weed (parthenium hysterophorus), has the ability to extend the lifespan of the malaria-transmitting mosquito, anopheles gambiae, even in the absence of a blood meal.