QUESTION
Is malaria infectious or noninfectious?
ANSWER
Malaria is considered an infectious disease because it can be transmitted from one person to another, via the bite of an infected mosquito. Since the parasite that causes malaria is passed through the blood, it can also be transmitted via organ transplant, blood transfusion, or via pregnancy (so-called “congenital” malaria).
Hi there,
I had malaria when I was in Kenya, and am aware I can never give blood again. Does this mean I can never donate my organs?
Actually, you can still donate blood – however, they will only use your plasma, not your whole blood, since there is no risk of transmitting malaria via plasma only. Similarly, you can still donate your organs; most cases of malaria from Kenya cannot reside long-term in your organs (only vivax and ovale type malarias can do this, and falciparum malaria is the most common type in sub-Saharan Africa), and if you were successfully treated when you had malaria, then it is probable that there is no trace of malaria left in your organs. Regardless, in most cases, demand for organs is such that the recipient requires an organ so urgently that the risk of malaria is of comparatively lesser concern, and if they did contract malaria, they could probably be treated without too much difficulty.