Malaria Month

QUESTION

What is the national month for malaria?

ANSWER

I’m not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if there is a specific month when malaria is the worst, that depends on where you are. Malaria transmission is highly seasonal, because the mosquitoes that transmit the disease require pools of standing water in order to reproduce. Therefore in many places, transmission is highest during the rainy or wet season.

However, if you mean if there is a specific month dedicated to raising awareness about malaria and control, then the answer is yes, at least for certain countries. India, for example, has declared each June between 2005 and 2012 to be “Anti-malaria Month,” when a big push is made nation-wide to educate people about preventing malaria, implement early diagnosis and treatment and organise vector control efforts. June was selected as it is the month before the start of the monsoon season, when malaria transmission increases due to the heavy rains.