ovale infection, the incubation period is typically 12 to 18 days, but can be a lot longer (months or years in some cases) due to a longer liver stage 3. falciparum, the incubation period is 7 to 14 days. During this incubation period the parasite undergoes an initial period of development in the liver, after which it infects red blood cells. The incubation period of malaria (the time from when the parasite enters the body, to the development of symptoms) varies depending on which Plasmodium species is causing the infection. falciparum can progress to become a severe and life-threatening illness if not diagnosed and treated promptly, leading to cerebral malaria which can cause coma and death 3. Other symptoms can include malaise, myalgia (muscle pain), headache, diarrhoea and cough. Often the first symptom is a non-specific flu-like illness with fever, sweats and chills. These cases may occur as a result of an infected mosquito being brought into the UK from a malaria endemic country by plane (airport malaria) or in someone’s baggage (baggage malaria) and surviving long enough to bite a nearby person before it dies. Occasionally, cryptic cases of malaria are reported in the UK where no travel history or medical procedures have been identified. Since 1990, between 13 cases of malaria (caused by all types) have been reported in the UK each year, with between 4 and 16 deaths. Malaria does not occur naturally in the UK but travel-associated cases are reported in those who have travelled to or arrived (either as a visitor or migrant to the UK) from malaria-endemic areas. Approximately 250 million cases and 1 million deaths are reported each year the heaviest burden is in Africa, where the majority of deaths from malaria worldwide occur each year, mostly in children 1. It mainly affects tropical parts of Africa, South and Central America, Hispaniola, Oceania, Asia, and the Middle East. Malaria is endemic in more than 100 countries worldwide, where approximately 3 billion people are at risk of infection. Rarely, malaria has been known to have been transmitted through breaches in infection control procedures in a healthcare setting 5 to 8. Malaria is not spread directly from person to person. Anopheles biting patterns vary depending on world region and species, but malaria transmission takes place most commonly between dusk and dawn.Īnopheles gambiae, the principal malaria transmitting mosquito in Africa, is known to be most active indoors after midnight 3. There are over 420 different species of Anopheles of which around 50 are medically relevant vectors of malaria 4. The malaria parasite is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. knowlesi have recently been reported in humans in South East Asia, and in 2006 the first case was reported in the UK. There is a 5th type, Plasmodium knowlesi, which is a parasite that usually infects monkeys, but cases of malaria caused by P. There are 4 types of malaria that commonly affect humans: Plasmodium falciparum (which is responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths), Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is a serious and potentially life threatening febrile illness caused by infection with the protozoan parasite, Plasmodium.
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