Malaria

Why in news?

Researchers have recently identified two promising new approaches to counteract malaria’s growing resistance to medication — one involving a new class of drugs.

• Malaria is a life-threatening, mosquito-borne disease caused by parasites.
• Caused by – The Plasmodium parasite (mainly P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi).
• Transmission – It is transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, through blood transfusions or contaminated needles, etc. (No direct human-to-human transmission).
• Symptoms – Typically include fever, fatigue, and headaches, but severe cases can lead to jaundice, seizures, coma, or death.
• Higher risk – Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS.
• Disease burden – Malaria cases increased globally to an estimated 263 million cases in 2023, up from 252 million in 2022, with approximately 597,000 deaths (WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024).
• It is mainly found in tropical and subtropical climates and largest death toll in recent years has been seen in children in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Prevention – Malaria can be prevented with insect repellent, protective clothing, and preventive medication, and is treatable with antimalarial drugs, especially when caught early. 
• Antimalarial drugs available in India – Chloroquine, Artemisinin-based combination like Artesunate + Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) and Artemether-Lumefantrine, and Quinine, etc.

Quick Fact

References

1. The Hindu | 2 new malaria treatments
2. WHO | Malaria