Facts
What is Malaria and Facts
Anyone can get malaria. Most cases occur in people who live in countries with malaria transmission. People from countries with no malaria can become infected when they travel to countries with malaria or through a blood transfusion (although this is very rare). It is important to know that an infected mother can transmit malaria to her infant before or during delivery.
Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites that are spread to people through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquito vectors. Of the 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, P. falciparum is the most deadly. The first symptoms of malaria – fever, headache, and chills – usually appear 10–15 days after the infective mosquito bite. Left untreated, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness and death.
Sub-Saharan Africa carries the heaviest malaria burden
In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 87 countries. While approximately 90% of malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, many people living in the WHO regions of South-East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, Western Pacific, and the Americas are also at risk of contracting the disease.
219 Million cases of malaria in 87 countries
Children under the age of 5 are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria. In 2017, an estimated 266 000 children died of malaria before their fifth birthday, accounting for 61% of all malaria deaths worldwide.
266 000 Children died of malaria
61% of all malaria deaths worldwide.61%
Every 2 minutes, a child dies of malaria. And each year, more than 200 million new cases of the disease are reported. Although countries have dramatically reduced the total number of malaria cases and deaths since 2000, progress in recent years has stalled. Worryingly, in some countries, malaria is on the rise.
Source: World Health Organisation, 2019
How is malaria transmitted
Malaria is transmitted via the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito.
These mosquitos most commonly bite between dusk and dawn.
The Anopheles mosquito acts as a vector? for the malaria parasite, carrying the parasite from host to host.
If a mosquito bites a person already infected with the malaria parasite it can suck up the parasite in the blood and then spread the parasite on to the next person they bite.
There are about 20 different Anopheles species? around the world that are responsible for the spread of malaria between humans.
Malaria is generally not spread directly from person to person. However, in some rare cases malaria has been spread through blood transfusions and the sharing of needles.
Malaria transmission occurs mostly during the rainy season but rates of transmission can vary from one year to the next.
Virus Structure
- Plasmodium
- Parasite that causes malaria in humans
- 1st Infected Mosquito
- 1st Infected person
- Infected liver cells
- Infected red blood cells
- 2nd Infected mosquito
- 2nd Infected person
Symptoms of malaria
Malaria causes flu-like symptoms such as:
severe malaria may cause
Malaria may causes illness such as:
Convulsions
Jaundice
Anemia
Speen enlargement
Enlarged liver
Kidney failure
Facts about mosquitoes
- There are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes
- Mosquito’ is Spanish for ‘little fly’
- Mosquitoes are little, but they are the deadliest creature on earth
- Some mosquitoes hibernate in the cold and some die in the cold
- Mosquitoes can smell human breath and sweat
- Mosquitoes do not fly far or fast, and cannot jump
- Mosquitoes do not have teeth
- The mosquito saliva causes the bump and itch when you are ‘bitten’
- Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes
Facts about ants
Ants are strong!
- Ants can carry three times more that their own weight
There are 10 quadrillion ants on Earth
- There are 7 billion humans on Earth but that’s nothing compared to ants. Current estimates show that there could be around 10 quadrillion ants on the planet. That’s 10,000,000,000,000,000.
Ants live and work together
- Rather than working as individuals, they function as parts of a collective whole, doing what is best for the colony as a collective.
- Ants can be found on the every continent except Antarctica
Facts about Cockroaches
- Cockroaches eat basically anything including each other
- Cockroaches can fit through tiny gaps and cracks by flattening themselves
- Cockroaches can survive a months without food and survive a week without their head, but need water
Tips to keep cockroaches from your home
- Keeping food sealed and stored properly
- Clean up after food preparation and eating
- Seal cracks in your home
- Keep trash/bins covered and emptied regularly
- Humid climates are prone to cockroach infestations
Signs of cockroach
- Cockroach faeces look like tiny black or brown rice grains
- Both alive and dead cockroach emit a bad smell