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Malaria

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Malaria life cycle. Malaria: No Ordinary Mosquito Bite. Malaria lifecycle. MedicineNet.com - We Bring Doctor's Knowledge to You. Medical News Today: Health News. Malaria. Malaria and TravelThe most recent malaria data show a huge increase in malaria cases reported in the United States.Learn More » FDA Revises Mefloquine LabelingDrug Still RecommendedLearn More » Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite.

Malaria

People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. In 2010 an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 660,000 people died, most (91%) in the African Region. Malaria. Malaria. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans (a type of unicellular microorganism) of the genus Plasmodium.

Malaria

Commonly, the disease is transmitted by a bite from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which introduces the organisms from its saliva into a person's circulatory system. In the blood, the parasites travel to the liver to mature and reproduce. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever and headache, which in severe cases can progress to coma or death. Disease transmission can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites by using mosquito nets and insect repellents, or with mosquito-control measures such as spraying insecticides and draining standing water.

Despite a need, no effective vaccine exists, although efforts to develop one are ongoing.