World Malaria Day 25th April is observed every year as Worl | UPSC PIB NEWS
World Malaria Day
25th April is observed every year as World Malaria Day.
About World Malaria Day:
◆ The first ‘World Malaria Day’ was observed on 25 April, 2008 led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and many governments all over the world.
◆ The theme for the 2021 World Malaria Day is ‘Reaching the zero malaria target’.
◆ The ‘Africa Malaria Day’ used to be observed on 25 April from 2011. The World Malaria Day evolved from this observance in order to emphasise the global health impact of this dreaded disease.
About Malaria:
◆ Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite.
What causes malaria?
◆ It is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites a human, the parasite is released into the bloodstream.
◆ Once the parasites are inside the body, they travel to the liver, where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells.
◆ Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open.
◆ The parasites continue to infect red blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in cycles that last two to three days at a time.
◆ Malaria is typically found in tropical and subtropical climates where the parasites can live. It is most prevalent in Africa, followed by Asia and Latin America. It also affects people in the Middle East and Europe albeit to a much smaller degree.
Symptoms:
◆ Symptoms include shaking chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, muscle pain, convulsions, etc.
◆ Malaria can cause a number of life-threatening complications such as swelling of the brain’s blood vessels, organ failure, low blood sugar.
Treatment:
◆ A vaccine for malaria has not yet been formulated.
◆ But, it can be cured with prescription medicines, depending upon the case.
◆ In India, the National Malaria Control Programmes conducts programs and takes measured to eradicate this disease from India where it is a serious public health issue. Nearly 95% of the population resides in areas endemic to malaria.
◆ Unfortunately, most areas in India are prone to malaria except areas that are at a high altitude of 2000-2500 m.
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