Can I Catch Malaria from Someone?

QUESTION

My fiancee contracted malaria a few years ago. It was diagnosed as recurring. Could I contract malaria from the infected person, I have had similar symptoms which last a day or two, recurring with regular two week intervals, of which the most concerning are malaise, fever, stiff neck, headaches and severe pains over abdomen spreading into my mid back. What should I do?

ANSWER

Malaria cannot be directly transmitted between two people—it is almost always transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot survive at low temperatures (under about 17 degrees C). In some very rare cases, malaria can be transmitted through organ transplant, blood transfusion and pregnancy, since it infects red blood cells. Given these restrictions, it is close to impossible that you contracted malaria from your fiancee, and you should talk to your doctor about alternative explanations.

Also, if your girlfriend has recurring malaria, she should talk to her doctor about taking primaquine. While not suitable for everyone (namely people with G6DP deficiency should not take it), it can kill the dormant stages of the malaria parasite and prevent recurrence.