How to Prevent Malaria

By: Sherry Kahn
The geographic distribution of malaria
Photo courtesy CDC

Malaria is a global crisis. This mosquito-transmitted disease affects about 300 million people each year, resulting in 1 million deaths. More than 90 percent of all cases occur in African countries, where it is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five. Today, the disease is a public health challenge, with 2 billion people in more than 100 countries at risk [Source: Roll Back Malaria Partnership]. It has re-emerged in areas where it was once eliminated due to a number of factors, including the parasite's increasing resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides.

Malaria is curable and preventable. In this article, you will learn about efforts underway to eradicate this serious disease and how you can protect yourself when you travel to countries where malaria is common.

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International agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, foundations and research and academic institutions are engaged in a number of efforts to prevent and control malaria. Here are a few highlights:

Roll Back Malaria Partnership

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBMP) is a coordinated global approach to fighting malaria. It was launched in 1998 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. Since its formation, the RBMP has expanded to including malarial-endemic countries, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.

RBMP's goal is to cut the malaria burden in half by 2010. Among its activities are mobilizing resources for malaria control and treatment, and supporting research into new and more effective tools, including a vaccine. Advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of the disease are a key component of the organization's activities. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) of the insecticide DDT on the walls and roofs of houses and domestic animal shelters and the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets are important disease control activities of the Partnership.

President Bush's Malaria Initiative

The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) is a 5-year initiative to control malaria in 15 target countries in Africa. Introduced by President George W. Bush on June 30, 2005, the government's program is a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of State, the White House and others.

The PMI's goal is to cut malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in the target countries, focusing on children under 5 years of age and pregnant women. In the target countries, PMI coordinates with national malaria control program and international partners, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the World Bank Malaria Booster Program; the Roll Back Malaria Partnership; NGOs, including faith-based and community groups and the private sector. The PMI focuses on four key areas: indoor spraying of homes with insecticides, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs and treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women.

Malaria No More

Malaria No More is a grassroots movement formed in 2006 by leading NGOs to provide individuals and nonprofit organizations the opportunity to support a comprehensive approach in the fight against malaria. The organization's founding partners are the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the Global Business Coalition, Millennium Promise, The Global Fund, the United Way and the United Nations Foundation. The current primary initiative of Malaria No More is the distribution of long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets.

PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, created in 1999 through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to accelerate the development of promising malaria vaccines and ensure their availability in the developing world.

We'll look at what you can do to keep from contracting malaria in the next section.

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Malaria: Personal Protection

While many are hard at work trying to contain malaria, you need to take steps to proect yourself when traveling to any country where the disease is common: avoid mosquito bites and take preventive antimalarial drugs.

Avoiding Mosquito Bites

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  • Use an insect repellent on exposed skin to repel mosquitoes. EPA-registered repellents include products containing DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) and picaridin (KBR 3023). DEET concentrations of 30 percent to 50 percent are effective for several hours. Picaridin, available at 7 percent and 15 percent concentrations, needs more frequent application.
  • DEET formulations as high as 50 percent are recommended for both adults and children over two months of age. Protect infants less than two months of age by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit.
  • When using sunscreen, apply it before your apply repellent. You should wash off the repellent before going to bed. Photo courtesy Amazon.com Using a bed mosquito net in areas where malaria is common is one way to prevent exposure.
  • To cover exposed skin, wear long-sleeved shirts that are tucked in, long pants, and hats.
  • Apply permethrin-containing repellents(such as Permanone) or other insect repellents to clothing, shoes, tents, mosquito nets and other gear for greater protection. Most repellent is generally removed from clothing and gear by a single washing, but permethrin-treated clothing is effective for up to five washings.
  • Be aware that mosquitoes that transmit malaria are most active during twilight periods (dawn and dusk).
  • Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing, and/or sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net. You should tuck bed nets under mattresses and spray them with a repellent if they are not already treated with an insecticide. Sources: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine

Preventive Antimalarial Drugs

CDC maintains a Antimalarial Drug Web site that provides information on which antimalarial preventive drugs you should take when visiting countries where malaria is common. Visit it to learn what specific prescription drugs you will need and obtain them from a doctor before you leave. You can also read How Malaria Drugs Work for more information.

The CDC cautions against purchasing antimalarial drugs outside the United States as they may not be manufactured appropriately and may not be effective. Also, you should avoid counterfeit medications or drugs containing contaminants. Halofantrine (marketed as Halfan) should be avoided because it has serious heart-related side effects, including death.

For lots more information on malaria prevention and related topics, check out the links on the next page.

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Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

More Great Links

Sources

  • "Diagnosis." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment/diagnosis.htm
  • "Frequently Asked Questions About Malaria." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/faq.htm
  • "Frequently-Asked-Questions about Malaria." Roll Back Malaria. http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/
  • "Malaria." Global Health Reporting. http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/malaria.asp
  • "Malaria." The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). http://www.who.int/tdr/index.html
  • "Malaria." World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/
  • "Measures to prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insects and arthropods." CDC: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/mosquito_tick_protection.htm
  • "Part 2: Treatment: General Approach & Treatment: Uncomplicated Malaria." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment/clinicians2.htm
  • "PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative." Malaria Vaccine Initiative. http://www.malariavaccine.org/index.htm
  • "Regional Malarial Information". CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/cafrica.htm#antimalarialdrugs

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