World Malaria Day, which takes place on 25 April each year, is an internationally recognised day, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made. Since 2000, the world has made historic progress against malaria, saving millions of lives. However, half the world still lives at risk from this preventable, treatable disease, which costs a child’s life every two minutes.
World Malaria Day seeks to raise awareness about malaria, the serious and sometimes fatal disease that plagues most tropical regions. Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, found in most tropical regions of the world.
Facts
• Only the female Anopheles mosquito can transmit malaria. After the mosquito bites, it usually takes 10 days to 4 weeks
to display symptoms of malaria.
• Usually, the mosquito only bites between 9pm and 5am. Making a mosquito net over the bed is a very effective tool in
malaria prevention.
• There are over 100 species of malaria parasite, the most deadly being the Plasmodium Falciparum.
Ready to beat malaria
WHO joins partner organizations in promoting this year’s World Malaria Day theme, Ready to Beat Malaria. This theme underscores the collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting around the common goal of a world free of malaria. It highlights the remarkable progress achieved in tackling one of humanity’s oldest diseases.
How to prevent Malaria
Prevention of malaria involves protecting yourself against mosquito bites and taking antimalarial medicines.
• Stay inside when it is dark outside, preferably in a screened or air-conditioned room.
• Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved shirts).
• Use insect repellent with DEET (N,N diethylmetatoluamide). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other experts
suggest that it is safe to use a repellent that contains 10% to 30% DEET on children older than age 2 months.
• Use bed nets (mosquito netting) sprayed with or soaked in an insecticide such as permethrin or deltamethrin.
• Use flying-insect spray indoors around sleeping areas.
• Avoid areas where malaria and mosquitoes are present if you are at higher risk (for example, if you are pregnant, very young, or very old).
References
• https://www.wincalendar.com/World-Malaria-Day
• https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/malaria-
prevention#1