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Also, the vector, Anopheles Gambiae, is the only vector of malaria and it is the most common in Tropical Africa, making them more susceptible to the virus.

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Vocab that must be included:

vector

protist/protozoa

erythrocyte

liver cell

incubation period

hemoglobin

OPTIONAL vocab to be included:

merozoite

sporozoite

gametocyte

ookinete

oocyst

schizont

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Current treatments for malaria are so limited, and the simple precautions (eg. mosquito net, covering up, bug spray) are not realistic in the long term and under hot and harsh environments. Unless more resources and aid is provided to poorer counties like Africa who needs help, this issue won't be resolved.

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"In 2020, the region was home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths. Children under 5 accounted for an estimated 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region."

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"Every two minutes, a child under five dies of malaria. Many of these deaths are preventable and treatable. In 2019, there were 229 million malaria cases globally that led to 409,000 deaths. Of these deaths, 67 per cent (274,000) were children under 5 years of age. This translates into a daily toll of nearly 750 children under age 5."

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Malaria is as much of a social issue as a medical one. This is because people are dying MAINLY because they don't have the resources to treat it, such as those from poorer countries like Africa, also since Malaria cannot cure on its own. If they have the money and access, the deaths will significantly decrease.  According to cdc.gov, in 2017, there were only 1,500 malaria cases in a developed country like the US, compared to the very high number, up to 400 cases per 1000 people, in Africa. There is also a much higher death rate.

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If we look at the death rate of malaria in the US, according to the CDC, around 5 deaths are reported every year. So what gives malaria such a bad reputation of being a deadly disease?

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The objective of the parasite is to multiple and survive WITHOUT KILLING THE HOST, as it depends on the host to survive.

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Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a single celled parasite called plasmodium falciparum that invades your red blood cells (erythrocytes). It is an INFECTIOUS but a NON-CONTAGIOUS disease, meaning it is caused by a parasite but cannot be spread without a vector. Malaria has impacted thousands of people across the world, especially those in malaria-prevalent areas. First found in 1880, Malaria is in 100+ countries/territories. Known for its devastating effects, and given current research, why is malaria so hard to eradicate?

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According to Rick Bucala, M.D., professor of internal medicine, pathology, and epidemiology and public health at Yale School of Medicine; The malaria parasite interferes with "the development of immunological memory" inhibiting the normal immune response. During the infection, memory T-cells, a vital part of infection fighting, are either killed or not produced enough to fight the parasite against infection and even re-infection.

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Blood of malaria patient, the purple dots indicate the presence of the Malaria causing parasite

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Hemoglobin is a red protein contained in erythrocytes that serve an important role in the transmission of oxygen The Plasmodium Falciparum parasite consumes hemoglobin, especially the iron in its many components, hemoglobin is its nutrient that allows it to survive. This results in a reduced level of hemoglobin in a malaria patient, which decreases the amount of oxygen in their blood, leading to anemia, fatigue, and other problems

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In this case, the Anopheles Gambiae acts as the vector of the malaria parasite, and they transfer it to a human host without experiencing any symptoms themselves.

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Chloroquine is the preferred antimalarial drug, however, nearly all areas prevalent, the parasite has developed a resistance. Even worse, according ton cdc.gov, P. falciparum has also developed resistance to nearly all of the other currently available antimalarial drugs.

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Very unlikely, the disease will continue to spread if not cured
It could result in cognitive issues, kidney failure, anemia, seizures and death
Even if symptoms go away, without proper treatment, episodes of malaria, (including fevers, and chills) can return

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A labelled diagram of plasmodium (the general genus) showing its components and characteristics

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Plasmodium Falciparum
- Unicellular
- Eukaryote
- Protozoa/Protist Parasite (Single-celled microscopic)
- They belong to Protista, the bridge kingdom between bacteria and eukaryotes

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Article about World Malaria Day: A example of progress towards raising awareness about the issue to stop it

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Raising Awareness about this issue so the cycle doesn't continually repeat

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World Malaria Day: Ready to beat malaria

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World Malaria Day is commemorated every 25 April. This year WHO joins partner organizations in promoting the theme; Ready to Beat Malaria. It underscores the collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting around the common goal of a world free of malaria. In the Western…

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Support and Funding

The U.S. government (U.S.) has been involved in global malaria activities since the 1950s and, today, is the largest donor government to global malaria efforts. ... U.S. funding for malaria control efforts and research activities was $979 million in FY 2021, up from $146 million in FY 2001.

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1. Malaria is more prevalent in poorer countries
2. There is a connection between the development level of a country and its access to resources to treat malaria

More developed country = more resources = more resources to treat/prevent malaria = less cases = less death

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2021 Data (Increased because of COVID19)

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2021 Data (Increased because of COVID19)

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Cases: 24,000,000
Deaths: 627,000 --- 47,000 were due to lack of treatment resources because of the intervention of COVID19 and its priorities.

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World map that shows the relationship between the geographical location and the prevalence of Malaria

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Malaria Prevention Antibiotics and treatment

Common treatments: Antibiotics that kill the parasite, Anti Malarial Drugs

Chloroquine phosphate. Chloroquine is the preferred treatment, but in many countries, parasites are resistant to it, and the drug is not effective

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). ACT is a combination of two or more drugs that work against the malaria parasite in different ways. This is usually the preferred treatment for chloroquine-resistant malaria.

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Defending Against Malaria: Simple Precautions

Bug Spray
Mosquito Net
Avoid dusk and dawn in prevalent areas
Avoid stagnant waters (mosquito breeding)
Exposing skin too much

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Plasmodium falciparum can multiple at astronishling high rates whilst it hides in the host's cells. They can multiply 7.6-10.5 folds every 48 hours, too fast for our immune cells to target and stop the infection.

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Plasmodium is able to hide in the liver cells while it reproduces, the body cannot recognize their invasion as the immune system will not target our own cells. According to researchers at Duke University, Plasmodium tricks the production of a protein for its own use to disguise against immune cells.

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- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle Ache
- Fatigue
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

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WHY MALARIA PARASITE WINS AGAINST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

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WHY MALARIA PARASITE WINS AGAINST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

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Although Malaria is treated, there is still risk of re-infection and re-exposure as there is no current vaccine for Malaria and if prevention methods are not taken.

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When Malaria is diagnosed, the invasion of the parasite to the red blood cells will cause a decrease of healthy red blood cells and disrupt the homeostasis in your blood. While your body will try very hard to make up for the disruption of homeostasis in your amount of red blood cells, without seeking treatment, the bacterium will continue to invade your red blood cells at a faster rate until there are non healthy left. Without healthy red blood cells, your body cannot deliver oxygen and carry waste and nutrients, leading to fatal results.

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Uncomplicated Malaria: Can have out-patient treatemnt
Serious Malaria: Requires hospitalization

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Incubation period is the time between initial exposure of the infectious agent to when symptoms begin to show. According to cdc.gov, Malaria's incubation period is 7-30 days

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The cycle begins again when the infected mosquito bites a new human and injects the sporozoites.

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Sporozoites develop within the oocysts and when it bursts, it releases the sporozoites into the body cavity and travels into the salivary glands of the mosquito.

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Malaria Oocysts in mosquito stomach, containing new parasites

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The gametes fertilize and become active ookinetes that situates in the mosquito's midgut wall and form oocysts on its surface.

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When a mosquito bites the malaria-infected person, the gametocytes are injected and develop into mature sex cells gametes within the mosquito.

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Picture of gametocytes floating in the bloodstream for better visualization

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Some erythrocytes do not continue to multiply and the merozoites develop into sexual forms: gametocytes, which are then present in the blood stream

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A clear picture to depict a bursting erythrocyte

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Vesicles free the merozoites into the blood stream, invading erythrocytes, multiplying in numbers until they burst, invading more erythrocytes, etc.

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Liver cell vesicles release sporozoites in the form of merozoites, which then travel through the heart and into the lungs: lung capillaries

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Sporozoites enter liver, reproduce asexually in the liver cells within the following 7-10 days after initial exposure

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Infected Anopheles Gambiae (female Mosquito) bites person, Plasmodium Falciparum, a protist, enters as sporozoites into blood