Miranda Grade 9 MYP Language A Did you know that a child dies every 30 seconds because of malaria (UNICEF)?

This infectious disease is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites (WHO). There are many different types of plasmodium parasites but the most common ones include plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum (WHO). This particular plasmodium parasite is mainly spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are night-biting mosquitoes. Many humid parts of the world are affected by this disease such as parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Haiti and Dominican Republic, some Pacific islands and parts of the Middle East (News Medical). In humans, the infection first begins when the parasites circulate and find their way to the lungs (Marsh, 2002). During this stage, the parasites have created around 30 000 daughter parasites, also called merozoites (Marsh, 2002). After about a week, the parasites enter the red blood cells and repeat the same cycle (Marsh, 2002). The symptoms begin during the Around 48 hours later, the meterzoites are released and the same process is repeated (Marsh, 2002). As for when the mosquito transmits malaria from a previous meal, another cycle of growth occurs within the mosquito (CDC). Around 10-18 days later, the parasites, which are known as sporozoites, are found in the salivary glands of the mosquito (CDC). When the mosquito takes a blood meal on another human, the sporozoites are injected with the mosquitos saliva and another human infection begins (CDC). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, malaria is one of the worlds most severe public health problems and 3.3 billion people are living at risk of getting infected by malaria. The groups of people that are in danger of being transmitted by this disease are young children, pregnant women, people with HIV/AIDS, and international travellers (WHO). The symptoms of malaria often include a high fever of over 38C, muscle pain, headache, unsteady vision and dizziness. Even though malaria may become severe and even lead to death, there are some ways to prevent this disease from occurring. Staying away from mosquitos is a priority as it can easily by using insecticide-treated nets and insect repellent (UNICEF). Another way to prevent malaria could be artemisinin-based combination therapy, which will help educate those living in rural areas (UNICEF). However, because of lack of access to resources and the high expense, there are countries like Nigeria, where 250 000 children die from malaria every year (UNICEF). UNICEF is an NGO that has helped countries that are severely infected by malaria, such as by providing mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying. As for pregnant women, they cant use certain types of medication so UNICEF offers intermittent preventive treatment, which is a type of drug that prevents a child from getting infected with malaria before birth. Therefore, malaria is an infectious disease that can easily be prevented; however, half of the worlds population is at risk of getting malaria (UNICEF). The main cause of the high statistics is due to lack of access to resources and a broken economy. With the help of NGOs, such as UNICEF, the malaria mortality rates have dropped by

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Miranda Grade 9 MYP Language A 25%. They have provided multiple anti-malarial interventions, such as mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying and medication. Bibliography "CDC - Malaria - About Malaria." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/index.html>. "CDC - Malaria - Malaria Worldwide - Impact of Malaria." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/impact.html>. "Malaria - What is Malaria?." THE MEDICAL NEWS | from News-Medical.Net - Latest Medical News and Research from Around the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Malaria.aspx>. "Malaria and the human body, part 1: Danger cycle | Malaria ." Malaria | Malaria . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://malaria.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD023879.html>. "UNICEF Photo essay - Where every day is Malaria Day." UNICEF - UNICEF Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/english/5236.html>. malaria, early morning. If any of these children have acute. "UNICEF - At a glance: Nigeria - Partnering to roll back malaria in Nigeria's Bauchi State." UNICEF UNICEF Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nigeria_49472.html>.

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