408,388,706 malaria cases in 2002. (http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/topic.jsp?i=23) 1,272,393 deaths in the same year. (http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/topic.jsp?i=25). Staggering numbers that don't begin to tell the personal story of physical, emotional, and economic suffering caused by this disease. In those regions in which malaria is endemic, the vitality of a population can be drained because those who are at greatest risk from malaria are young children and pregnant women (http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/malaria.asp). So much human potential is stricken before it has a chance to flourish.
Malaria is a monumental global health challenge. One of the reasons that it is difficult to prevent and treat is that there are four different species of parasite: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae (http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/biology/index.htm) that infect humans. Recommended treatment (as well as clinical course of the disease) varies with the species of the infecting parasite and with the drug resistance that the infecting parasite exhibits.
As if the current situation weren't bad enough, now comes news that there is a fifth species of plasmodium that has been found to infect humans ( http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/524888 ): Plasmodium knowlesi. Previously it had been thought that this parasite infected only non-human primates. Unfortunately, infections with this species tend to be more severe than P. malariae, the species with which it has been commonly confused (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:17330429563112416022::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,40798).
If you are looking to connect with an organization that is working to prevent, control and/or treat malaria, globalhealthreporting.org provides a list on its web site. The numbers of infections and deaths from malaria are compelling reasons to get involved in the fight against this devastating disease.
In the meantime, here is a link to a new video about an effort to promote the use of insecticide--treated netting to prevent malaria in Uganda. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLjQ-R8_bOY&feature=related It raises some interesting points about the role of private enterprise in preventing infectious disease in the developing world. If you have any comments about this work please share them.
April 25 is World Malaria Day. If you are involved in any events scheduled for this day let me know.
Malaria is a monumental global health challenge. One of the reasons that it is difficult to prevent and treat is that there are four different species of parasite: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae (http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/biology/index.htm) that infect humans. Recommended treatment (as well as clinical course of the disease) varies with the species of the infecting parasite and with the drug resistance that the infecting parasite exhibits.
As if the current situation weren't bad enough, now comes news that there is a fifth species of plasmodium that has been found to infect humans ( http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/524888 ): Plasmodium knowlesi. Previously it had been thought that this parasite infected only non-human primates. Unfortunately, infections with this species tend to be more severe than P. malariae, the species with which it has been commonly confused (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:17330429563112416022::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,40798).
If you are looking to connect with an organization that is working to prevent, control and/or treat malaria, globalhealthreporting.org provides a list on its web site. The numbers of infections and deaths from malaria are compelling reasons to get involved in the fight against this devastating disease.
In the meantime, here is a link to a new video about an effort to promote the use of insecticide--treated netting to prevent malaria in Uganda. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLjQ-R8_bOY&feature=related It raises some interesting points about the role of private enterprise in preventing infectious disease in the developing world. If you have any comments about this work please share them.
April 25 is World Malaria Day. If you are involved in any events scheduled for this day let me know.
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