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Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite called
Plasmodia. There are four identified species of this parasite causing human malaria,
namely, Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae. It is
transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito. It is a disease that can be treated in just
48 hours, yet it can cause fatal complications if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
It is re-emerging as the # 1 Infectious Killer and it is the Number 1 Priority Tropical
Disease of the World Health Organization.
Malaria is a major global health problem
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Malaria affects more than 2400 million
people, over 40% of the world's population, in more than 100 countries in the tropics from
South America to the Indian peninsula. The tropics provide ideal breeding and living
conditions for the anopheles mosquito, and hence this distribution.
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Every year 300 million to 500 million
people suffer from this disease (90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, two thirds of the
remaining cases occur in six countries- India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Colombia and
Solomon Islands).
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WHO forecasts a 16% growth in malaria
cases annually.
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About 1.5 million to 3 million people die
of malaria every year (85% of these occur in Africa), accounting for about 4-5% of all
fatalities in the world.
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One child dies of malaria somewhere in
Africa every 20 sec., and there is one malarial death every 12 sec somewhere in the world.
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Malaria kills in 1 year what AIDS killed
in 15 years. In 15 years, if 5 million have died of AIDS, 50 million have died of malaria.
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Malaria ranks third among the major
infectious diseases in causing deaths- after pneumococcal acute respiratory infections and
tuberculosis. It is expected that by the turn of the century malaria would be the number
one infectious killer disease in the world.
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It accounts for 2.6 percent of the total
disease burden of the world. It is responsible for the loss of more than 35 million
disability-adjusted life-years each year.
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Every year ~ 30000 visitors to endemic
areas develop malaria and 1% of them may die.
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Estimated global annual cost (in 1995) for
malaria: US$ 2 billion (direct and indirect costs, including loss of labour).
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Estimated worldwide expenditure on malaria
research: US$ 58 million, one thousandth of the US$ 56 billion spent globally on health
research annually.
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Estimated annual expenditure on malaria
research, prevention and treatment: $ 84 million.
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Estimated worldwide expenditure per
malaria fatality: $ 65; as compared to $ 3274 for HIV/AIDS and $ 789 for asthma. That is
to say, one HIV/AIDS death is equal to about 50 malaria deaths!
Malaria was nearly eradicated from most
parts of the world by the early 60's, owing largely to concerted anti malarial campaigns
world over under the guidance of the World Health Organization.
The following are some of the reasons for
the resurgence of malaria:
| Man made |
Complacency and laxity in
anti malarial campaigns; conflicts and wars; migrations; deteriorating health systems;
poverty |
| Parasite |
Drug Resistance |
| Vector |
Insecticide Resistance and ?
ban on DDT |
| Environment |
Global Warming - increased
breeding and life span of the insect vector |
| Jet Age |
Shrinking World - spread of
malaria from endemic areas to all other parts of the world |
Distribution of
malaria
Africa
| Asia/Middle East | Australia/Oceania
| Europe/CIS | North/Central America |
South America
See Malaria In India; Malaria
In Mangalore
Know more about
malaria!
Join efforts to control
this menace!
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