Post by Student_Nurse Eno Wellington (@eno_wellington)

Causes & Transmission of Malaria

Many people believe malaria comes from staying in the sun for too long, drinking dirty water, or getting soaked in the rain. The truth is, malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, not by weather or food.

This parasite is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito. When an infected mosquito bites a person, it transfers the parasite into the bloodstream. The parasite then travels to the liver, where it multiplies before returning to infect the red blood cells. This is what leads to the symptoms of malaria.

How is malaria transmitted?

Malaria is mainly spread through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected when it bites someone who already has malaria. The parasite develops inside the mosquito, and when that mosquito bites another person, it passes the parasite on, allowing the cycle to continue.

Although mosquito bites are the main route of transmission, malaria can also be spread in rare cases through infected blood transfusions, sharing contaminated needles, organ transplants, or from a pregnant mother to her unborn baby.

It's important to know that malaria cannot be spread from one person to another through hugging, handshakes, sharing food, coughing, or sneezing. The disease needs the malaria parasite to be introduced into the bloodstream, most commonly through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Understanding how malaria is caused and transmitted helps us focus on the right preventive measures and protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.

#LekeeLekee #malaria #viral #PublicHealth

0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares