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This video explains the lifecycle of malaria and how the previously discussed topics can help stop it from spreading.

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Malaria and Life Cycle of Plasmodium | Diseases | Infinity Learn NEET

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SciShow discusses another new problem we have been faced with- mosquitoes are becoming resistant, so what do we do?

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Insecticide resistance helping malaria make a comeback?

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Insecticide resistance helping malaria make a comeback?

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Why We Stopped Making Progress on Malaria

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This UN-based group utilizes the use of insecticide-treated nets as a tool to fight agains malaria, distributing them to the most affected communities.

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UNICEF: "Nearly every minute, a child under 5 dies of malaria"

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UNICEF: "Nearly every minute, a child under 5 dies of malaria"

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Nearly every minute, a child under 5 dies of malaria

Nearly every minute, a child under five dies of malaria. Many of these deaths are preventable and treatable. In 2021, there were 247 million malaria cases globally that led to 619,000 deaths in total. Of these deaths, 77 per cent were children under 5 years of age. This translates into a daily toll of over one thousand children under age 5.

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Nearly every minute, a child under five dies of malaria. Many of these deaths are preventable and treatable. In 2021, there were 247 million malaria cases globally that led to 619,000 deaths in total. Of these deaths, 77 per cent were children under 5 years of age.

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The World Health Organization(WHO) contributes to the constant battle with malaria in several ways; making tests easily accessible, administering drugs, etc.

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Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs.

Malaria is preventable and curable.

Control measures including insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying can prevent and reduce malaria transmission.

Early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment of malaria reduces disease and can help prevent malaria related deaths. The best available treatment, particularly for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)

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Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs.

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This article presents a possible weapon to use against malaria in high-risk populations- genetic engineering.

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HSC 206 Gene-modification Malaria Article

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Poor families, and specifically children, are the number one target for malaria- and it comes as no surprise why that is. 

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Lancet, Meta analysis of who malaria effects most and how socioeconomic support helps defeat it

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Lancet, Meta analysis of who malaria effects most and how socioeconomic support helps defeat it

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Mosquitoes spread malaria. These researchers want them to fight it instead of us.

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July, 2023. Genetic engineering is being used to battle malaria. 

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July, 2023. Genetic engineering is being used to battle malaria. 

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Mosquitoes carry malaria, which kills hundreds of thousands of people each year. Now some researchers are trying to use genetic engineering to make the pesky insects into allies in the fight against the disease.

The approach is a radical departure from traditional ways of controlling malaria. For years, public health officials have tried to limit the disease by controlling mosquito populations.

But that approach is temporary, says Anthony James, a professor of molecular biology and genetics at the University of California, Irvine. Because mosquitoes are extremely tough little insects, and their populations can quickly rebound.

"To try to get rid of them, I don't think it's possible," he says. Instead, James and his colleagues want to try a different approach: makingmosquitoes themselves into malaria-fighting warriors.

To understand how it works, it helps to understand the life cycle of malaria. The malaria pathogen is a parasite that grows inside humans. It's transmitted via mosquitoes that flit from person to person, sucking blood (the parasites also reproduce inside the guts of skeeters).

"If we can make the mosquitoes inhospitable to the pathogens, you know, we can eliminate the threat of getting the disease," he says.

But making mosquitoes uninviting to malaria is a tough job. The malaria parasite doesn't make mosquitoes sick, so mosquito immune systems don't fight it.

To get around the problem, the team used a gene-editing technique called CRISPR. They started with genes from mice, whoseimmune systems do fight human malaria.

"What we did then was engineer those [genes],and give them to the mosquitos," he says.

The results were published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Sure enough, the gene-edited mosquitos produced malaria-fighting antibodies.

Those antibodies "worked very well," says James. "They reduce the number of parasites in the mosquito, most importantly in the salivary gland, which is where they would be before they were transmitted to a human host."

This technique also allows the researchers to make the genes spread quickly. That means, rather than having to release swarms of gene-edited mosquitos, they could put out a smaller number. The engineered mosquitoes mate, pass on their genetic code, and that code rapidly fans out across the wild population.

But genetically altering wild animals does not sit well with environmentalists.

"There's no need to engineer a mosquito," says Dana Perls, senior program manager for the emerging technology program at the non-profit Friends of the Earth. Perls points out that naturally occurring methods for reducing malaria appear to be showing promise, as does a new vaccine against the disease.

"Why take unnecessary risks and release a manipulated species that can't be recalled once it's released into the wild?" she asks.

Anthony James believes the risks would be very low. The mosquitoes are already part of the ecosystem, and the gene alterations wouldn't affect much other than their response to malaria, he says. Moreover, it's better than sprays and treatments that control mosquitoes temporarily.

"This is potentially a much more sustainable technology," he says.

His lab is now working on planning a field trial, which he hopes could be conducted on an island or in another isolated location.

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Mosquitoes spread malaria. These researchers want them to fight it instead

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Scientists have used a gene-editing technique to make mosquitos allies in the fight against malaria. Environmentalists are troubled by the idea of genetically modifying wild animals.

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These authors discuss the new problem of mutating pathogens and how this can be fatal to the eradication of malaria.

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Parasite Immunology, Genetic diversity of malaria resulting in "vaccine resistant" strands

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Parasite Immunology, Genetic diversity of malaria resulting in "vaccine resistant" strands

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The top four contributors to death by malaria are all located in Africa, and make up 50% of all malaria deaths. But its not only in African countries...

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July, 2023. Malaria outbreaks are still running rampant throughout the world.

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July, 2023. Malaria outbreaks are still running rampant throughout the world.

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Malaria Outbreaks July 2023

Malaria is a disease caused by four species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale and is transmitted to people by Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization ( WHO) World Malaria Report, the global number of malaria cases reached about 240 million, with over 600,000 related fatalities in 2021. Previously, the WHO has declared 42 countries malaria-free.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued various outbreak alerts for malaria-endemic countries, including Costa Rica. The CDC conducted a COCA Call on July 20, 2023 - Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment in the U.S. On June 26, 2023, the CDC issued Health Advisory CDCHAN-00494 regarding malaria cases in Florida and Texas. The CDC publishes Malaria Information and Prophylaxis by Country (2021). The CDC received reports of 1,823 confirmed malaria cases with the onset of symptoms in 2018, including one cryptic case and one case acquired through a bone marrow transplant. Though rare, Malaria can also be transmitted congenitally. Of imported malaria cases in the U.S., 59% were among persons who had traveled from Africa. The number of cases reported in 2017 was the highest since 1972.

A study published by the Royal Society on February 15, 2023, indicates these mosquitoes gained an average of 6.5 meters (21 feet) of elevation per year, and the southern limits of their ranges moved south of the equator by 4.7 kilometers (nearly 3 miles) per year.

Malaria Africa

The WHO says four African countries account for over 50% of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), the United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%), and Niger (3.9%). A study published by PLOS ONE on May 31, 2023, found 13 Sub-Saharan African countries' Malaria Indicator Surveys, the pooled prevalence of Malaria among children aged 6-59 months was found to be 27.41% (95% CI: 17.94%-36.88%) ranging from 5.04% in Senegal to 62.57% in Sierra Leone. On May 10, 2023, South Africa reported a significant increase in malaria cases in the endemic provinces and Gauteng. According to the 2022 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global malaria cases (27%) and the highest number of deaths (32%) in 2020. In addition, data from the 2018 Federal Republic of Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey show that malaria parasitemia in children was 23%.

Malaria The Americas

In the Region of the Americas, Brazil and Venezuela reported the most malaria cases in 2022. Paraguay, Argentina, and El Salvador were certified malaria-free by WHO in 2018, 2019, and 2021, respectively. Additionally, Belize was certified malaria-free by WHO on June 21, 2023. The Costa Rica Health Surveillance Directorate of the Ministry of Health announced ab increased risk of Malaria in Costa Rica, especially in coastal zones. Costa Rica confirmed that 131 positive malaria cases had been identified as of June 6, 2023, and 75,000 chloroquine tablets have been provided. In response, the CDC issued an Alert Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions advisory regarding Costa Rica's malaria outbreak on April 17, 2023.

Malaria India

In 2022, 50 people died due to Malaria across India. However, this was a drastic decrease compared to 2014, when Malaria led to 562 deaths in the country. The National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India 2016-2030 was launched in 2016, followed by the National Strategic Plan 2017-2022. According to the WMR 2019, India represents 3% of the global malaria burden.

Malaria United States

Florida and Texas issued alerts regarding travel-related and locally acquired malaria cases in 2023. And seven locally-acquired malaria cases were confirmed in Florida in May, June, and July 2023. Additionally, 28 travel-related malaria cases with onset in 2023 have been reported in Florida as of July 22, 2023. Previously, the Florida Department of Health issued a statewide mosquito-borne illness alert on June 26, 2023. Sarasota and Manatee counties issued similar warnings on June 19, 2023. In 2003, 8 cases of locally acquired P. vivax malaria were identified in Palm Beach County, FL.

On June 23, 2023, the Texas Department of State Health Services ( DSHS) reported one malaria case in Cameron County. These malaria cases have been identified as the P. vivax species of Malaria, which is not as fatal as other species. Effective treatment is readily available, and consultation advice is available for healthcare providers through the CDC Malaria Hotline (770-488-7788).

Malaria Vaccines 2023

Malaria vaccine information is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/Malaria.

Malaria Treatments

Malaria is curable with prompt diagnosis and treatment, preventing progression to more severe disease. Antimalarial therapies are approved in 2023.

Malaria Tests

As of July 2023, confidential malaria tests are offered by Ulta Labs.

Malaria Outbreak News 2023

July 3, 2023 - "The (Gates) Foundation does not fund any work involving mosquito release in the United States," a spokesperson told AFP in an email. "Malaria eradication has been a top priority of our foundation for more than two decades, and we remain committed to devoting resources and expertise toward ending the disease for good."

June 28, 2023 - The journal Nature published an article: The next frontier for malaria vaccination.

June 26, 2023 - The Florida Department of Health issued a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory following four confirmed and recovered local cases of locally acquired Malaria in Sarasota County.

April 13, 2023 - The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced an increase in Malaria cases, primarily in the Caribbean province of Limon.

March 29, 2023 - The WHO announced that Azerbaijan and Tajikistan had been malaria-free.

February 22, 2023 - A Stanford University-led analysis could help forecast malaria outbreaks. Published in PLOS Global Public Health, this study could inform efforts to combat Malaria more efficiently and affordably.

February 20, 2023 - "South West Ethiopia is a newly constituted region characterized by weak physical infrastructure, recurrent and heavy floods, a fragile security situation, and poor public health awareness," explained Megi Wechuro, who heads South West Ethiopia's Public Health Institute.

January 24, 2023 - The Lancet reported results from a study in Benin, which confirms that adding the pyrrole insecticide chlorfenapyr to long-lasting insecticidal nets as a second active ingredient to back up the pyrethroids can have invaluable effects on malaria transmission and disease burden.

December 14, 2022 - The Oaxaca ( Mexico) Health Secretariat issued an epidemiological alert for an outbreak of Malaria. A total of 20 confirmed cases of Malaria have been identified.

December 8, 2022 - The WHO announced, "Following a marked increase in malaria cases and deaths in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, malaria-affected countries redoubled their efforts and were able to mitigate the worst impacts of Covid-related disruptions to malaria services" said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

November 29, 2022 - The African country of Malawi expanded the malaria vaccine pilot to reach many more children in advance of its incorporation into its routine immunization program in 2023.

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Malaria is vaccine preventable disease caused by parasites transmitted by mosquitoes to people in 2023.