Metro Guard Mosquito Information

Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four different blood parasites, called Plasmodia. The disease is transmitted to people by the Anophelesmosquito. This disease is a leading cause of debilitating illness, with over 200 million cases each year from around the world. Any person residing in or traveling to a country where malaria is prevalent is at risk for contracting the disease.

Malaria is currently a problem in tropical or subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Susceptibility to malaria is universal except for a portion of Africans that have a natural immunity.  Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected Anophelesmosquito. With certain malaria species, dormant forms can be produced which may cause relapses of malaria months to years later. Malaria may also be transmitted by transfusion of blood from infected people or by the use of contaminated needles or syringes.

Symptoms include fever, chills, sweats and headache, and in some instances may progress to jaundice, blood coagulation defects, shock, kidney or liver failure, central nervous system disorders and coma. Cycles of chills, fever and sweating occurring every one, two or three days is a good indicator of malaria in a person recently returning from a tropical area.  The time between the infective mosquito bite and the development of malaria symptoms can range from 12 to 30 days depending on the type of Plasmodiainvolved.