Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41550461›Full record

ArticleGeoHealth2026

A Machine Learning-Based Dynamic SST Index for Long-Lead Malaria Prediction in the Peruvian Amazon.

Mengxin Pan, Shineng Hu, Mark M Janko, Benjamin F Zaitchik, Ken Takahashi, Andres G Lescano, Cesar V Munayco, William K Pan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in GeoHealth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mengxin PanNicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham NC USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7419-2856
Shineng HuNicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham NC USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3791-5389
Mark M JankoDuke Global Health Institute Duke University Durham NC USA.
Benjamin F ZaitchikDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0698-0658
Ken TakahashiInstituto Geofísico del Perú Lima Peru.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-2939
Andres G LescanoEmerge Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit School of Public Health and Administration Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Lima Peru.
Cesar V MunaycoClima Latin American Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Health Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Lima Peru.
William K PanNicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham NC USA.

Funding

Peru Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Training ConsortiumD43TW007393 · FIC · UNIVERSIDAD PERUANA CAYETANO HEREDIA · PI Andres G Lescano · 2005 to 2026
$5.9M
Improving Response to Malaria Outbreaks in Amazon-Basin CountriesR01AI151056 · NIAID · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI PAN, WILLIAM KUANG-YAO · 2021 to 2025
$3.4M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW007393NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI151056
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Malaria imposes a major health burden in the Peruvian Amazon, and its early warning is essential for effective disease prevention. The tropical sea surface temperature (SST) variability, fundamentally shaping the global weather patterns, may also alter malaria transmission and potentially improve its long-lead predictability. In this study, we propose a machine learning-based methodology that leverages comprehensive tropical SST variability for malaria prediction in the Peruvian Amazon. First, we demonstrate that significant correlations broadly exist between tropical SST anomalies and Peruvian malaria occurrence across different seasons and time lags, confirming the potential predictability from the tropical ocean. Then, we apply the self-organizing map to synthesize the spatiotemporally varying SST-malaria relationship and identify a unique dynamic SST index for Peruvian malaria. The dynamic SST index provides better performance (higher correlation coefficients and lower root mean square errors) in the generalized linear model, compared to the traditional El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index, with lead times exceeding 3 months. Furthermore, the dynamic SST index captures the evolution of the ENSO life cycle from its precursor climate mode (Pacific Meridional Mode) and appears to influence Peruvian malaria by altering the local near-surface air temperature and specific humidity. Such underlying mechanisms provide the physically plausible basis for the long-lead predictability of Peruvian malaria using a machine learning-based remote predictor. Last but not least, we provide open-source code for broad applications in linking tropical SST variability and vector-borne disease transmission, or other climate-sensitive socioeconomic issues.

Indexed as

malaria early warningPeruvian amazonsea surface temperatureself‐organizing map

Identifiers

PMID41550461
PMCPMC12809050

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.