The Beastly Facts

	Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. There are four types of malaria, but usually only one, so called malignant malaria, is known to be fatal. This is caused by the Plasmodium Falciparum parasite entering the blood stream, usually through the saliva of the female Anopheles mosquito that needs to feed on human blood to develop her eggs. The male on the other hand, feeds on plant juices.

Once inside, it can take just 30 minutes for the parasite to reach the liver where it begins a process of growth and multiplication.

Re-entering the blood stream, and now with reinforcements, the parasites attack the red blood cells where they continue to multiply. When these blood cells eventually burst, thousands more parasites are released and the cycle of infection begins again. This process depletes blood oxygen levels creating the clinical symptoms such as high fever, headaches and muscle pains most commonly associated with the disease.

Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to malaria because they are more attractive to malaria carrying mosquitos, perhaps because of a warmer skin.