For a 2 micron cell diameter (a relatively large bacterium or a very small eukaryotic cell), the 4 nm thickness implies an aspect ratio of 1:500, similar to the case of an airplane.
Malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Human malaria is caused by four different species of Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax. Humans occasionally become infected with Plasmodium species that normally infect animals, such as P. knowlesi.
What Causes Malaria? Malaria is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The history of malaria shows that it was difficult to determine the disease's mode of transmission.