How many types of malaria are there?
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. There are five types of malaria parasites that affect humans: Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium knowlesi; and Plasmodium ovale. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most common, while Plasmodium falciparum is the most serious – accounting for most malarial deaths. The malaria parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite mainly between dusk and dawn. Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the focus of the containment project as it is this species in which resistance to artmemisins has emerged.
