FEATURE
WHAT'S THE BUZZ ABOUT MALARIA? Although the world's attention is currently focused on COVID-19, other viruses that recently emerged, such as Zika and chikungunya, are continuing to circulate and cause problems. WHAT IS MALARIA? Spread by mosquitos, malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and a global public health challenge. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasite that causes malaria is a microscopic, single-celled organism called Plasmodium. Malaria is predominantly found in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa, South America and Asia. If not detected and treated promptly, malaria can be fatal. However, with the right treatment, started early enough, it can be cured. Around 95% of deaths are in children under the age of five living in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, death rates have fallen globally by 47% since 2000 (WHO). There are more than 100 kinds of Plasmodium that can infect many animal species such as reptiles, birds and mammals. There are six different species of malaria parasite that cause malaria in humans. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most common types of malaria parasite that infect humans. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most serious, life-threatening infections in humans.
KEY FACTS • Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. • In 2018, there were an estimated 228 million cases of malaria worldwide. • The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 405 000 in 2018. • Children aged under 5 years are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2018, they accounted for 67% (272 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA? Usually the incubation time for malaria is seven to 18 days. With some species of malaria, such as Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, the parasite can lie dormant in the liver. It can therefore take up to a year for symptoms to develop. Once inside the body, the malaria parasites grow and multiply inside the red blood cells. When the red blood cells burst releasing merozoites (usually every 48–72 hours), it results in an attack of flu-like symptoms such as fever, sweating, shivering and shaking, muscle aches, nausea and headache. These attacks last 6–10 hours. >>
THE LOCAL VOICE 11
