Malaria
Global View
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| Geography Malaria is present in over 100 countries and threatens half of the world’s population. In sub-Saharan Africa, where it is the single largest cause of death for children under five, malaria kills one child every 30 seconds – approximately 3,000 children every day. |
Transmission Transmitted from person to person by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. Four species are involved: P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax, P. ovale.& P. falciparum is the main cause of severe clinical malaria and death. |
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| Symptoms Malaria begins as a flu-like illness 8 to 30 days after infection. Symptoms include fever (with or without other signs or symptoms such as headache, muscular aches and weakness, vomiting, diarrhea). Typical cycles of fever, shaking chills, and drenching sweats may then develop. Death may be due to brain damage (cerebral malaria), or damage to vital organs. |
Patient treatment needs Patients in malaria-endemic countries need inexpensive, efficacious, and field-adapted drugs. |
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3.2 billion people at risk
219 million new cases
660'000 deaths
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