Malaria is a disease that is both preventable and curable, but it continues to devastate the African continent. Here are 4 important things you should know about malaria:
- Malaria is a major public health problem in Africa
In 2021, the World Health Organization reported that children under 5 years of age made up about 80% of all malaria deaths in the African region. What’s more, four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths around the world: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%). 1
- Malaria is not only transmitted by mosquitoes
Malaria is not contagious so you will not catch it by being in contact with someone with malaria. Most people become infected with malaria when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. However, the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, so you can catch malaria if you are exposed to infected blood. Here’s how 2:
- Blood transmissions
- From mother to unborn infant
- By sharing needles
- Some people are at greater risk of malaria
People most at risk of severe infection are 3:
- Infants
- Children under the age of five
- Pregnant women
- People with HIV or AIDS
- Some immunity against malaria is not enough
People living in malaria regions sometimes develop partial immunity against malaria. Even if your immune system gets stronger over time, it can still be easily overwhelmed if you get malaria again in the future, so it is best to try prevent being bitten in the first place. 4
In conclusion, malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Africa. By understanding the modes of transmission, risk factors, and the importance of prevention, we can work towards reducing the burden of malaria in affected regions.
References:
1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
2 https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html
3 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
4 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166685121000724
