World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on April 25th to spread awareness about malaria and to make efforts to control and eliminate the disease. World Health Organization established it in 2007 to raise awareness about malaria and to promote preventive measures to control the disease. Read this blog post to learn about malaria, its symptoms, causes and the significance of celebrating World Malaria Day.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus. It spreads in humans with the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Mosquitoes spread malaria, dengue as well as chikungunya. They are present in tropical and sub-tropical areas and can spread the disease by biting.
Symptoms of Malaria
Anyone infected with malaria will notice some symptoms. The following are signs of malaria:
- fever
- chills
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- joint pain
- fatigue
- headache
- vomiting and nausea
- rapid heart rate
- rapid breathing
- cough
Malaria symptoms may appear within a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Causes of Malaria
When an uninfected mosquito bites a person with malaria, the mosquito becomes infected. When an infected mosquito bites someone else, it transmits a parasite to the other person’s bloodstream. After that, the parasites multiply. Five types of malaria parasites are there that can infect humans.
In rare cases, pregnant women and people with malaria can transmit the disease to their children prior to or during birth. It is possible, but unlikely, for malaria to be transmitted through blood transfusions, hypodermic needles and organ donations.
How to Reduce the Risk of Malaria on this World Malaria Day 2024?
Follow the steps given below to reduce the risk of malaria:
Use Mosquito Nets
It is suggested to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) to prevent mosquito bites during the night. At night, malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are active. Tuck the net properly to ensure mosquitoes can’t enter the net.
Wear Long-Sleeved Clothes
Cover your skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, shoes, and socks. It has been said that light-colored clothes are less attractive to mosquitoes.
Avoid Going Outside during Peak Mosquito Activity
Mosquitoes that can spread malaria are most active during the early morning and early evening. If possible, try to stay indoors during peak mosquito activity or ensure to follow preventive measures.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so make sure to eliminate standing water around your home, such as buckets, flower pots, or clogged gutters. Make sure to replace contaminated water with fresh water in pet bowls.
Take Anti-Malarial Medication
Take antimalarial medication before, during and after you travel to a malarial-endemic area if recommended by a healthcare professional. Follow the schedule and prescribed dosage strictly to ensure effectiveness and reduce the risk of contracting malaria.
Clean Your Surroundings
Ensure to keep your surroundings clean to discourage mosquito breeding. You should dispose of garbage, trim shrubs and bushes, and keep grass around your home well-maintained.
World Malaria Day 2024 Theme
The theme of World Malaria Day in 2024 is “Accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”.
Significance of World Malaria Day
The importance of celebrating World Malaria Day is to highlight the necessity of continued investment in malaria control and prevention. World Malaria Day also offers the opportunity to check progress and spot areas where improvements need to be made to reach global Malaria control targets. World Malaria Day is celebrated in the hope that it will spread awareness about severe and sometimes fatal diseases resulting from a parasite that infects certain types of mosquitoes that feed on humans. Malaria disease is dangerous for human health so it is important to follow preventive measures to get rid of malaria.
Conclusion
Make sure to follow safety measures to prevent malaria from spreading. If you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms of malaria, then immediately seek help from a healthcare provider. Moreover, keep reading such types of health-related blogs by subscribing to Personal Care N Heal.
Other Useful links:-
How to Shrink a Goiter Naturally
