QUESTION Is malaria infectious? ANSWER Yes, malaria is considered an infectious disease, though it is very rarely transmitted directly between people, and virtually all of the time must be transmitted via the bite of a mosquito (of the genus Anopheles). Because part of the life cycle of malaria occurs in red blood cells in the human host, if sufficient amounts of blood are shared … [Read more...]
Life Cycle of Malaria
QUESTION Why does the malaria parasite first enter the liver? ANSWER The malaria parasite enters the liver in order to transform from a sporozoite (which can infect liver cells) to a merozoite, which is capable of infecting red blood cells. Both stages also include a proliferation step, but in the blood, the merozoites are also able to differentiate into gametocytes, which are then taken … [Read more...]
Malaria in Hong Kong and China
QUESTION Is malaria a risk in Hong Kong and Southern China? ANSWER There is no reported malaria transmission in Hong Kong, nor in the provinces directly bordering it in southern China. However, there is some risk of malaria in other parts of southern and central China, notably in the provinces of Anhui, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, and Yunnan, though rare cases may also be observed in … [Read more...]
Other Causes of Malaria
QUESTION Apart from mosquitoe bites, is there any other thing that can cause malaria or if not from mosquitoes, is there any other way someone can get malaria? ANSWER Since the malaria parasites reside and reproduce in the blood, in some cases it is possible to transmit malaria from person to person through transfer of a large volume of blood, for example during a blood transfusion. … [Read more...]
Discovery of Malaria
QUESTION How was malaria discovered? ANSWER Malaria has long been known to human populations from across the world. In fact, the first mention of the symptoms of malaria comes from an ancient Chinese manuscript from 2700 BCE! However, the actual cause and mechanism of transmission of the disease was only discovered in the 19th century. It was Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran, a French … [Read more...]
Malaria in Southern Africa
QUESTION Which areas in southern africa harbour malaria? ANSWER Most of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa does not harbor malaria, either because it is too cold, too dry, or control measures have successfully eliminated transmission. However, malaria transmission is found in virtually all parts of Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. In addition, pockets of malaria transmission can be … [Read more...]
First Malaria Outbreak
QUESTION When was the first ever outbreak of malaria? ANSWER Malaria has actually been known in human populations for thousands of years, so the first ever outbreak occurred long before any records were kept. The ancient Chinese recorded the symptoms of malaria in a medical manuscript which dates back to 2700 BCE, so almost 5000 years ago! The symptoms of malaria were also known to … [Read more...]
Malaria in Kitwe Zambia
QUESTION Is it dangerous for my children two years old in Kitwe? ANSWER Kitwe has been part of the Roll Back Malaria campaign to control malaria in Zambia—the program has been very successful, reducing deaths by malaria by over 65% nationwide. However, there still is a risk of contracting malaria in most parts of the country, and so preventative measures should be taken when … [Read more...]
Anopheles Mosquito
QUESTION Why is it only the female anopheles mosquito alone can cause malaria but not the male anopheles mosquito or any other mosquitoes? ANSWER Malaria is actually caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium—it is transmitted via the bite of a female mosquito, of the genus Anopheles, as she takes a blood meal from a human (or other mammal) host. Male mosquitoes do not … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Contagious?
QUESTION Is malaria contagious? ANSWER Malaria cannot be transmitted directly between people via normal circumstances, so it is not contagious in the same way flu or the common cold is contagious. It also cannot be sexually transmitted. In most cases, malaria can only be transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, so unless those mosquitoes are present, it cannot be transmitted. … [Read more...]