1. Global Health Malaria

2. Transmission Malaria is spread by mosquitoes carrying parasites of the Plasmodium type. Four species of Plasmodium are responsible for the majority of human infections Human infection begins when malaria parasites enter a person’s body via a mosquito bite. Parasites multiply in the liver and are then released into the bloodstream. The blood-stage parasites invade and multiply within red blood cells, the destruction of which produces clinical disease.

3. Symptoms Symptoms appear seven days or more (usually 10–15 days) after the infective mosquito bite. The first symptoms include fever, headache, chills and vomiting If not treated within 24 hours, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness often leading to death Children in endemic areas with severe disease frequently can develop severe anaemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria

4. Treatment Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths. It also contributes to reducing malaria transmission. The best available treatment, particularly for P. falciparum malaria, is artemisinin-based combination therapy Growing resistance to antimalarial medicines has spread very rapidly, undermining malaria control efforts.

5. Prevention Vector control is the primary public health intervention for reducing malaria transmission at the community level insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) indoor spraying with residual insecticides

6. Epidemiology 3.3 billion people (half the world’s population) live in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 109 countries and territories. WHO estimates 190 - 311 malaria cases, and 708,000 - 1,003,000 deaths in 2008 89% of the malaria deaths worldwide occur in Africa Malaria has been eliminated from many developed countries with temperate climates

7. Malaria Endemic Areas