World Malaria Day 2024: Date, History, Theme, Significance, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

World Malaria Day 2024: On April 25th each year, the world joins together to raise awareness about malaria.

Basically, malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that spread through mosquito bites.

It's preventable and curable, but it's still a worry for public health, especially in tropical and subtropical countries.

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World Malaria Day 2024 History

On World Malaria Day, the World Health Assembly (WHA) raises awareness about malaria, assembles resources for prevention and treatment, and highlights progress made to control and eventually eradicate the disease.

World Malaria Day 2024: Theme

"Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world" is this year's theme for World Malaria Day.

The WHO said the theme is in sync with this year's World Health Day theme "My Health, My Right" and emphasizes the urgent need to address the stark inequities in access to malaria prevention, detection, and treatment services.

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Malaria symptoms

In regions where malaria is common and people have some immunity (asymptomatic infections), early malaria often mimics a mild flu, with fever, chills, and headaches.

Causes of Malaria

Infected female Anopheles mosquito bites carry the Plasmodium parasite that causes the dangerous mosquito-borne illness.

The disease is caused by five parasitic species: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi. The first one only affects humans, while the last one affects macaques and monkeys.

Prevention and treatment

The prevention of malaria can be achieved through the use of bed nets, insecticide spraying, staying indoors, maintaining a clean environment, and many other proven strategies.

Early diagnosis and complete treatment also prevent malaria from spreading.

If you are going to damp areas where mosquitoes can breed, make sure you wear clothes that cover you properly.

When malaria incidence is high in your surroundings, sleep under a mosquito net. Use insect repellent on your skin and even on your clothes.

The symptoms of malaria should be treated immediately. A parasitological test is essential for malaria diagnosis.

On World Malaria Day, make sure you spread as much awareness about malaria as possible and follow preventative tips at all times.

Malaria needs to be diagnosed and treated promptly in order to avoid serious complications and even death.

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