QUESTION How soon after infection, will a person usually begin to feel ill? ANSWER There is a latent period, during which time the malaria parasites (which had entered the bloodstream via the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito) migrate to the liver and undergo replication. The sporozoites (the life stage that enters the blood from the mosquito) differentiate in many merozoites, which … [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...]
Malaria Prevention
QUESTION What are the ways in which you can prevent yourself from being infected with malaria? ANSWER Malaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures (since malaria is transmitted by infected mosquitoes) and chemoprophylaxis (medication to prevent the establishment of malaria in your body, if you do get bitten). Although very efficacious, none of the … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Malaria Causes
QUESTION What are the causes of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they … [Read more...]
Sexual Intercourse During Malaria Infection
QUESTION Can one have sexual intercourse during malaria infection? Can malaria be transmitted by sexual intercourse? ANSWER Malaria cannot be transmitted by sexual intercourse. It is usually transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito. Because the parasites infect red blood cells, malaria can also be transmitted via blood transfusion (if the blood is not screened beforehand), … [Read more...]
Malaria in Mosquitoes
QUESTION Why can't mosquitoes become sick of malaria? What do they have in their system that prevent them from becoming sick yet they transmit the disease to humans? ANSWER First of all, mosquitoes do get "sick" when infected with malaria, though not in the same way as humans. This is due to the major differences between human and mosquito physiology and also differences in the life stage … [Read more...]
Malaria Transmission and Deaths in the United States
QUESTION How do you get malaria? How does malaria come to the United States? How many people have died from malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by infection with single-celled parasites called Plasmodium. There are five different species which infect humans; of these, Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly. The Plasmodium parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected … [Read more...]
Three Stages of Malaria
QUESTION What are the three stages of malaria? ANSWER The three parts of the malaria life cycle are known as the exo-erythrocytic cycle, the erythrocytic cycle and the sporogonic cycle. The first two of these take place in the human (or other mammal) host, while the third occurs in the mosquito vector. The below diagram, courtesy of the CDC, shows the complete life cycle of malaria in … [Read more...]
Is malaria infectious?
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). … [Read more...]