QUESTION In which form of malaria is the death rate highest? ANSWER The most dangerous form of malaria in people is Plasmodium falciparum. It causes the most severe symptoms (for example, "cerebral malaria") and also the most deaths. It is widespread around the world, but most deaths due to P. falciparum (and in fact, all malaria) occur in sub-Saharan Africa. … [Read more...]
Malaria Mosquito Classification
QUESTION What is the classification of mosquito that cause malaria? ANSWER The mosquitoes that cause malaria in humans (and indeed also in all other mammals) all belong to the genus Anopheles. They belong to the family Culicidae, which also includes other disease vectors such as Culex and Aedes, which transmit other diseases such as dengue virus, lymphatic filariasis, West Nile virus and … [Read more...]
Can’t Get Rid of Malaria
QUESTION Each and every month I am suffering from malaria ..Treatment is also going on but I am unable to get rid of it. ANSWER It is very unusual to be reinfected so constantly with malaria. First of all, how are you getting diagnosed? You should be getting a blood test, and not relying on symptoms only; the symptoms of malaria are very general and it could be that you are suffering from … [Read more...]
What is Malaria?
QUESTION What is malaria? What is the parasite that causes malaria? ANSWER Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite, of the genus Plasmodium, that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito (of the genus Anopheles) which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of … [Read more...]
Is Malaria a Mosquito STD?
QUESTION Is Malaria a type of STD for mosquitoes? ANSWER No. Mosquitoes pick up the malaria parasite from feeding on the blood of infected humans. Since only female mosquitoes feed on blood (the males feed on nectar), male mosquitoes never get infected with the malaria parasite. The life cycle of malaria in the mosquito is also completely different than in humans, and mosquitoes have a … [Read more...]
Structure and Size of Malaria
QUESTION What is the structure and size of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a single celled protist of the genus Plasmodium. It undergoes a complex life cycle, involving two separate asexual reproductive stages in the vertebrate host (including humans) and sexual reproduction as well as multiplication in the insect vector (all human malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes). As such, the … [Read more...]
Malaria in Africa
QUESTION How many in Africa have been affected by Malaria? ANSWER In 2010, there were approximately 174 million cases of malaria in Africa. However, some people may present with more than one case of malaria per year (especially young children), so the number of people affected is likely considerably lower. However, 90% of deaths from malaria occur in Africa, and 60% in just six … [Read more...]
Malaria Statistics in South Africa
QUESTION What are the statistics of malaria in South Africa from 2002-2011 for males and females? ANSWER It is difficult to find statistics across time that are detailed enough to distinguish between the sexes. However, I have found a website collates information about malaria in southern Africa specifically, and this link will take you to a figure on that site which shows the number of … [Read more...]
Malaria Vaccine
QUESTION Is there a vaccine for malaria? ANSWER No, as of yet there is not a vaccine available for malaria. The most promising vaccine candidate, RTS,S, which has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is currently undergoing Phase III trials in Africa. The trial is not due to finish until 2014, so we will have to wait until then to know how effective it is. Preliminary results, published … [Read more...]
Malaria in Limpopo, South Africa
QUESTION In which year did malaria spread in Limpopo? ANSWER Malaria has likely been in the southern part of Africa for many hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In recent times, control initiatives have been in place in areas of malaria transmission in South Africa since 1945, reducing the incidence of malaria in many places. Other than that, this paper, freely accessible via the … [Read more...]