Malaria awareness

• Main parasite species infecting humans:
  • Plasmodium falciparum (most dangerous)
  • P. vivax
  • P. ovale
  • P. malariae
  • P. knowlesi (rare, from monkeys to humans)

Symptoms (appear 10–15 days after infection):

• High fever with chills
• Sweating
• Headache, nausea, vomiting
• Fatigue, muscle pain
• Severe cases: anemia, organ failure, coma, death

2. History of Malaria

• Ancient References:
  Evidence of malaria-like fevers appears in ancient Egyptian writings (1550 BCE), Chinese medical texts (2700 BCE), and Hindu medical works like the Atharva Veda.

• Discovery of Cause:

  • 1880: Alphonse Laveran discovered that malaria is caused by a parasite in human blood.
  • 1897: Sir Ronald Ross discovered that malaria spreads through Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Global Eradication Efforts:

  • Mid-20th century: WHO launched campaigns using DDT spraying and antimalarial drugs, which eliminated malaria in many temperate countries.
  • Still a major health problem in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

3. Malaria Awareness & Prevention

Awareness goals: Educate people about transmission, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

Key Prevention Methods

1. Avoid Mosquito Bites:

   • Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).
   • Wear long-sleeved clothing.
   • Use mosquito repellents.
   • Close windows/doors or use screens.

2. Control Mosquito Population:

   • Remove stagnant water (mosquito breeding grounds).
   • Spray insecticides in high-risk areas.

3. Chemoprevention:

   • Antimalarial drugs for travelers and pregnant women in endemic areas.

4. Early Diagnosis & Treatment:

   • Use Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) or blood smears.
   • Treat promptly with effective medicines like artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

4. Awareness Campaign Examples

• WHO’s World Malaria Day – 25 April every year.
• Slogans & Messages:
  • “Zero Malaria Starts With Me”
  • “Beat Malaria – Protect Yourself and Your Family”
• School programs, health camps, community outreach to spread prevention knowledge.

5. Current Global Situation

• WHO (2023): Around 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Children under 5 and pregnant women are most at risk.
• Vaccines like RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) are being introduced in high-risk African countries.