Half of humans are exposed to malaria

25 April: World malaria day

– Although Spain in 1964 received the official certificate of eradication of Malaria, disease is still diagnosed in the Spanish health system due to both immigration and the comprehensive development of the global tourism.

Madrid, April 2012.- In 2010, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization (who), about 3.3 billion people, approximately 50% of the world’s population was exposed to malaria or malaria, especially those living in the poorest countries. Dr. Javier Montero Jiménez, internista hospital USP San Camilo, ensures that this disease caused by parasites of the genus ‘ Plasmodium ’ presents a chilling statistics ” and, on the occasion of the World malaria day that is celebrated today, April 25, gives a series of tips for controlling the disease, among which are: the generalization of the use of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide or avoid the exits to the evening as it is that the mosquito is more active.

Few diseases are as old and as well known as malaria. We know who produces, how is transmitted, how prevents, how to treat it and malaria, however, presents some chilling figures because of the approximately 3 billion people living in some of the 103 endemic countries, 243 million annually develop symptomatic malaria, and of these, 860,000 will die, 80% children in sub-Saharan Africa ”, explains the expert in tropical diseases.

what is malaria?

Malaria is the paradigm of parasitic diseases and is caused by infection with the parasite ‘ Plasmodium ’ on a susceptible individual from infection. In 90% of cases, is responsible for the ‘ Plasmodium Falciparum ’; the remaining 10% is split between Plasmodium vivax malaria and, to a lesser extent the ‘ Plasmodium Malariae ’ and ‘ Plasmodium Ovale ’.

The development of the disease involves the vector mosquito, the parasite and human beings. Tropical and subtropical areas with mild temperatures and time of sunset are the places and most propitious times to receive a bite by a female of ‘ Anópheles ’ infected ”, tells Dr. Montero.

50 bites per year

For the development of malaria, explains the expert, it is estimated that more than 50 annual bites by the infected mosquito, which inoculará to humans an amount of slime that will be reproduced in the liver and red blood cells of the host subject are necessary. This life cycle determines the clinical characteristic of recurrent bouts of high fever preceded by an intense feeling of cold and tiritona.

Although Spain in 1964 received the official certificate of eradication of malaria, the disease are still diagnosing in the Spanish health system due to both immigration and the comprehensive development of the global tourism ”, stands out.

Without proper treatment, malaria can have a clinical course that runs from autolimitadas forms that evolve spontaneously into the healing to aggressive shapes with neurological manifestations and cardiorespiratorias that lead to the death.

Unfortunately do not have today a vaccine 100% effective because of the technical complexity of the same design as well as the high cost of its development that hardly makes their production profitable to go primarily to third world countries ”, believes the doctor Montero Jiménez.

While comes such a vaccine the axes in the control of malaria are, in his view:

• the widespread use of effective mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide which can achieve up to a reduction of 50% in the transmission of the parasite and reduce infant mortality by up to 20%.
• Spraying of interior spaces with insecticides.
• The use of drug combinations for the declared cases.
• Intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women in areas of high transmission.

For tourists who travel to endemic areas should take into account some simple recommendations such as:

• use skin repellents high-power.
• Use long-sleeved shirts and avoid shorts to reduce the areas of exposure to the mosquito bite.
• Avoid the exits to the evening as it is that the mosquito is more active.

World malaria day

World Organization of health in their XL General Assembly decided to establish the World malaria day as a recognition to all governmental and non-governmental efforts in global disease control, as well as a call to continue the advance and the same Studio.

through the program ‘ Roll Back Malaria ’, sponsored by who, was raised as the ambitious goal of reducing mortality by 75% by the year 2015. On April 25, 2008 was held the first World malaria day.

This day offers the opportunity for:

-countries in the affected regions take advantage of the experiences of others and mutual support;
– new donor countries to join a new global partnership against malaria
-research and academic institutions expose their scientific advances to experts and the general public; and
– international partners, companies and foundations provide instruction on their activities and how to expand initiatives that have given good results.

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