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MALARIA

The disease Malaria kills over a million people each year and is second only to TB in its impact on world health. This disease, spread by mosquitoes, is endemic in 90 countries and affects one in ten of the world’s population. In spite of this 90% of the cases of Malaria are found in the sub-Saharan Africa region where it is the main cause of death and a major threat to the health of children. A child dies every 30 seconds from this illness many of whom don’t have access to the drugs they need to properly and effectively treat this disease. Not only that but this disease is becoming resistant to traditional treatments and in some parts of Asia, none of the major drugs are effective in fighting it. Even the mosquitoes are developing a resistance to the insecticide that is used to deal with this disease.

Malaria Malaria is caused by a parasite. This parasite called Plasmodium is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In a human, the parasites multiply in the liver and invade the red blood cells of the body.

Symptoms of this disease include fever, headache and vomiting which usually occur around 2 weeks following the mosquito bite. Malaria, when left untreated can become life threatening as it disrupts to blood supply to the major organs.

Although it is believed that there are at least 247,000,000 cases of malaria in the world each year, it is difficult to get the data from this disease. Mostly because the symptoms of this disease occur a few weeks after a mosquito bite, and secondly because the symptoms are so generalized from this particular disease.

SOME STATISTICS ABOUT MALARIA

  • In 2000, there were 1.39 cases of Malaria per 100,000 in Canada.
  • In Australia in 2002, there were 2.4 new cases of Malaria per 100,000, approximately 466 new cases.
  • Data for 2002 for other countries instances of Malaria
  • 125 Registered Cases in Argentina
  • 928 Registered Cases in Belize
  • 7 Registered Cases in Jamaica
  • 14,276 Registered Cases in Bolivia
  • 4,289 Registered Cases in Mexico
  • 349,873 Registered Cases in Brazil
  • 740 Registered Cases in Canada
  • 2,244 Registered Cases In Panama
  • 5 Registered Cases in Chile
  • 13,091 Registered Cases in Suriname
  • 195,719 Registered Cases in Columbia
  • 29 Registered Cases in Cuba
  • 29,491 Registered Cases in Venezuela
  • 1,021 Registered Cases in Costa Rica
  • 86,757 Registered Cases in Ecuador
  • 35,540 Registered Cases in Guatamala
  • 446 Registered Cases in the US

The main problem being that it is believed that although being reported that this illness because of its elusiveness is being under-reported.