Each year, 250 million people contract malaria and one million people die from the disease. Unimaginable numbers but, despite global efforts, there is still no effective vaccine.
The group of parasites which cause malaria are passed on via mosquito bites. Because more than one species of parasite is involved, one vaccine alone is not enough. Some of the parasites are difficult to grow in the laboratory, making research on them almost impossible.
Despite the problems, however, there has been progress, especially in prevention. One has only to think of cheaper medicines, mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide and, of course, the provision of good information.
The United Nations launches World Malaria Day on 25 April. One day in the year when special attention can be paid to all the efforts to tackle one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
But what does malaria mean, leaving aside all the numbers, statistics and scientific research? We ask people from all corners of the world about the effect malaria has had on their lives. Read their personal stories here:
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Thanks RNW for pushing my buttons and to get my malaria medication research going!
I am going to Kenya soon, and I need to get medication to prevent being infected.
(Besides nets and sprays and long sleeves)
In the Netherlands we can buy Malarone pills or Lariam pills.
Malarone is daily, more expensive, less harmful for your body.
Lariam is weekly, less expensive, more of an attack on your body.
I need advice as whether I got this right, and are there other options?
Malaria might be a common cold in India, or Kenya too perhaps, but it is quite serious.
Thanks rnw! much appreciated!
Malaria is as common as a common cold in India. Almost every parson has had it a few times, and chloroquine or Lariago takes care of it. I had it once too as a child.I had high grade fever once when I was in 9th grade. My mother took me to the hospital where all tests were done and malaria report was negative, still I was admitted in the hospital and anti-malaria treatment was started. My condition worsened and I told the senior doctor on round that they had misdiagnosed me as I was having Typhoid, because the symptoms were similar to the fever I had once, a few years back. The whole team of doctors had a good laugh. ''Now this 12 year old girl will teach us medicine!" they remarked. The malaria treatment continued for another week, and I became emacited and toxic, with no respite in fever. I had lost my appetite too. After three weeks of admission in the hospital, the same senior doctor on round sat besides me holding my pulse and muttered,'' Perhaps we should listen to this 12 year old girl.'' He called the nurse and himself took blood samples for Typhoid. It was Typhoid indeed, much to our relief. I was put on new treatment and I started responding. The doctor apologised to me in front of all the team, as he patted my back.''You would make a good doctor!" he said. I smiled weakly, I was too weak to get up and greet him. I was in hospital for few more weeks, but it took months to recover from the weakness.
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