What is malaria?
Quick Answer
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes. It can cause fever, chills, anemia, and in severe cases death.
The Full Story
Malaria is not caused by a virus or bacterium but by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium. After a mosquito bite, the parasite travels first to the liver and then infects red blood cells, which leads to the classic cycle of fever and chills. The disease is a major public health burden in tropical regions, especially for young children and pregnant people. Prevention includes insecticide-treated bed nets, antimalarial drugs, vector control, and newer vaccines used in some regions.
Key Facts
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