Is malaria a viral or bacterial disease?
Malaria is caused by an infection of the red blood cells with a tiny organism or parasite called a protozoa. There are four important species of the malaria protozoa (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae) and each has a slightly different effect. These organisms are carried from person to person by the Anopheles mosquito. When it bites an infected person, the mosquito sucks up blood containing the parasite, which may then be passed on to the mosquito’s next victim. The main symptom of malaria is a fever that occurs in regular episodes, with sweating and shivers (known as rigors), and exhaustion (because of anaemia). In some cases, it can affect the brain or kidneys. Malaria occurs where the Anopheles mosquito breeds – predominantly in rural tropical areas. From a UK/USA perspective, it’s a threat to people travelling to malarial regions abroad. As many as 30,000 visitors to tropical countries are infected every year. Malaria is a major kille
