What is Malaria and How Does it Spread?


Malaria is a disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite. It is believed that malaria, or a disease resembling malaria, was recorded in ancient Chinese writings as early as 2700BCE. Outbreaks have been recorded worldwide throughout history and the disease has been responsible for the decline of many populations. Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran was credited with the official discovery of the malaria parasite in 1880. 17 years later, Ronald Ross proved that malaria could be transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The vector-borne disease is widespread in poor tropical and subtropical areas. In 2015 there were an estimated 214 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in an estimated 438,000 deaths according to World Health Organization statistics. Although historically more prevalent, today in the United States an average of 1,500 travel-related cases of malaria are reported annually. These cases are from recent travelers or immigrants coming from countries where the disease is widespread.

Malaria is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite of certain infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Mosquitoes in this genus usually feed from dusk throughout the night. Although rare, it is possible for infected mothers to transmit the parasite to their baby during pregnancy. It is also possible to contract malaria through blood transfusion or the shared use of contaminated needles. Malaria cannot be sexually transmitted or spread from person to person through casual contact


Symptoms of Malaria

  • Flu-like symptoms typically develop about two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito and include fever, chills, sweating, and fatigue.
  • A common symptom of malaria is paroxysmal attacks, which involve recurring sudden coldness and shivering followed by fever and sweating every two to three days.

  • Other common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and mental confusion.

  • In severe cases, malaria can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma or even death.

  • Severity often depends on the species of parasite. 


Treatment of Malaria

  • There are a variety of antimalarial drugs. Treatment often depends on the species of malaria parasite, the part of the world where it was acquired, and the severity of the disease.

  • Oral or intravenous medications may be used, depending on severity.

  • Severe cases of malaria will require hospitalization for supportive treatment and care to manage high fever, seizures, and respiratory complications.

Traveling to Countries Where Malaria is Present


It is important to take appropriate prevention measures when traveling to known malaria-endemic regions of the world. Depending on the destination, malaria prevention medicines may be needed and travelers should discuss options with their healthcare provider. Other prevention measures include the use of repellents and insecticide-treated bed nets while staying in countries with known malaria risk


Malaria and the United States


Through economic development and public health measures, the United States has succeeded in eliminating malaria. While malaria was officially considered to be eliminated from the U.S. in the 1950s, approximately 1,500 travel-related cases are still reported every year. This is primarily attributed to individuals becoming infected while traveling and then returning to the U.S. When this happens, rapid diagnosis and treatment are extremely important in preventing outbreaks. And since the vector mosquito species Anopheles is still present in many parts of the county, ongoing surveillance is vital to helping us accurately track the distribution of these mosquitoes and to identify at-risk areas for potential disease transmission.


A Global View of Malaria


Approximately half of the world’s population lives in areas that are at risk of malaria transmission. Malaria is most prevalent in developing nations within tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Africa is the most affected area, with the most vulnerable persons being young children and pregnant women. And because of the high cost of intervention, malaria is a leading cause of death in many of these poor countries. Global efforts are under way to help control malaria and reduce the number of malaria-related cases and deaths. Control measures include the diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as prevention interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and larval and adult vector control. These efforts have led to a 45% decrease in malaria mortality over the past decade. 



Know Your Anopheles Mosquitoes


The Anopheles genus of mosquito is mainly responsible for the transmission of malaria in humans. There are about 430 known species of Anopheles that can be found worldwide (except Antarctica). Of these species, around 35 are known vectors of malaria. Adult Anopheles can be identified by their unique resting position where their abdomen is raised in the air. The Anopheles gambiae complex, which comprises at least seven morphologically indistinguishable species, is the primary vector of malaria throughout tropical Africa.  None of these species occur in the United States; however historical vector species that are still prevalent in the U.S. include Anopheles quadrimaculatus, An. freeborni, and An. pseudopunctipennis.


Controlling Anopheles Mosquitoes and Malaria




1:  Public Education 



2:  Surveillance 



3:  Larval Mosquito Control

Our trained field technicians inspect both known sources of standing water and any newly discovered sites for the presence of mosquito larvae. Eliminating mosquitoes prior to their becoming adults is an important element of controlling malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases because it stops mosquitoes before they acquire the virus and have the opportunity to transmit it to people. 


4:  Adult Mosquito Control







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