Malaria

Malaria Animation

More than a million people die of malaria every year. Virtually all malaria deaths occurs in areas inhabited by the female Anopheles mosquito. Four members of the genus plasmodium cause malaria in humans; Plasmodium malaria, P vivax, P ovale and P. falciparum.

The disease occurs when any of the four species is present in the saliva of an anopheles mosquito and is injected into the human bloodstream by the incest’s bite. The parasites infect the liver and ultimately release progeny back into the bloodstream, where red blood cells become infected. The red blood cells lyses, showering the bloodstream with more parasites, which then infect additional red blood cells. Rupture of the red blood cells occurs in a synchronized manner, resulting in the periodic episodes of chills and fever that are typical of malaria.