Download 8. Malaria

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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.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by a eukaryotic protist of the genus
Plasmodium. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas
(22 countries), Asia, and Africa. Each year, there are more than 250 million cases of malaria,
killing between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in subSaharan Africa. Ninety percent of malaria-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is
commonly associated with poverty, and can indeed be a cause of poverty and a major hindrance
to economic development.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between
10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become lifethreatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the
parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.