Malaria is a deadly disease caused by the protozoan (parasite) Plasmodium. The five types of Plasmodium are: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi is zoonotic) Malaria is transmitted by a vector – the female Anopheles mosquito. The breeding sites of the mosquitoes are primarily areas with stagnant water, where they lay their eggs.
The mosquitoes generally bite people during the night. The incubation time, or the time it takes for the immunity system to recognize the pathogen, ranges normally from ten to forty days (depends on the health of the person, age, type of Plasmodium, and other individual characteristics). Malaria is characterized by symptoms similar to that of the influenza viruses - chills, body aches, fatigue, and fevers are common.
The mosquitoes generally bite people during the night. The incubation time, or the time it takes for the immunity system to recognize the pathogen, ranges normally from ten to forty days (depends on the health of the person, age, type of Plasmodium, and other individual characteristics). Malaria is characterized by symptoms similar to that of the influenza viruses - chills, body aches, fatigue, and fevers are common.
- Amongst all the deaths caused by malaria in the last five years, 91% of them are in Africa. In Zimbabwe, the only form of Plasmodium is P. falciparum, which unfortunately is the most deadly. In Zimbabwe, in the year of 2009, every single person, from a survey done by the United Nations, either had or has a case of malaria. The WHO has not developed a vaccine against this protozoan yet, but mosquito nets sprayed with permethrin have definitely shown evidence for prevention (in areas where the mosquito is nonresistant). While the WHO provides substantial amounts of monetary aid each year to Zimbabwe, it does little to help. The health care economics of Zimbabwe has been adversely affected by the recurrent malarial attacks on a wide cross section of the population. Being a third world country, lack of infrastructure, improper sanitation, and the general nutrition status of the people have worsened the impact.
- Drugs known as Chloroquine and Lariam(Mefloquine) are generally used, but are not useful in Zimbabwe as P. falciparum has become resistant to chloroquine, and Lariam is too expensive for the general public. Another factor that limits the usage of some medications is the majority of people in Zimbabwe have a Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or G6PD deficiency, making them unable to process the medications. Thus, the people are either unable to take some of the medications, or it is cost prohibitive.
By: Krithika Ravishankar