Malaria prevention

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. Malaria is a life-threatening blood disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans by the Anophelesmosquito. It is a preventable and treatable disease.

The word malaria comes from 18th century Italian mala meaning "bad" and aria meaning "air". Most likely, the term was first used by Dr Francisco Torti, Italy, when people thought the disease was caused by foul air in marshy areas.

It was not until 1880 that scientists discovered that malaria was a parasitic disease which is transmitted by theanopheles mosquito. The mosquito infects the host with a one-cell parasite called plasmodium. By the end of the 18th century, scientists found out that Malaria is transmitted from person-to-person through the bite of the female mosquito, which needs blood for her eggs.

Approximately 40% of the total global population is at risk of Malaria infection. During the 20th century the disease was effectively eliminated in the majority of non-tropical countries.

Malaria is a public health problem in several parts of the country. About 95% population in the country resides in malaria endemic areas and 80% of malaria reported in the country is confined to areas consisting 20% of population residing in tribal, hilly, difficult and inaccessible areas.