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Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite that infects certain species of mosquitoes. People get malaria by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Malaria is one of the world's greatest public health problems. Approximately 219 million people are infected each year, with an estimated 660,000 deaths, mostly children in Africa. Around 2,000 people are diagnosed with malaria in the U.S. annually, and most of them acquired malaria while visiting countries with ongoing mosquito-borne transmission (imported malaria).

About Malaria

Malaria is caused by one of four species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi, and is transmitted by Anopheles species of mosquitoes. If an infected Anopheles mosquito bites a person, symptoms typically occur within 1-4 weeks. Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, such as chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. If not treated quickly, the infection can become severe.

Although rare, people can get malaria through a blood transfusion, or infants can get malaria before or during delivery if the mother is infected. Potential for malaria transmission from an imported case to a non-traveler within the U.S. is possible (but rare) since Anopheles mosquitoes that can transmit malaria are widespread across many states, including Alabama. Suppose someone in the U.S. is infected with malaria and is bitten by an Anopheles mosquito. In that case, the mosquito may become infectious and could transmit the parasite to other people in the area.

Prevention

The best preventive measures for residents living in areas infested with Anopheles mosquitoes are to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate the places where mosquitoes breed. Avoid areas with high mosquito activity, especially during the late evening and at night when the mosquitoes that spread malaria are more likely to bite.

Keep windows and doors closed or covered with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house. Properly applying mosquito repellents on exposed skin and clothing decreases the risk of mosquito bites. To learn more about insect repellents, visit Insect Repellent Information from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Habitat modification may reduce or remove permanent breeding sites but is often difficult for homeowners to implement. Where possible, Anopheles larval habitats may be destroyed by filling depressions that collect water or draining or ditching marshy areas to remove standing water. Mosquitoes that breed in irrigation water can be controlled through careful water management. For some mosquito species, habitat elimination is not possible. For these species, chemical insecticides or biological control methods can be used to reduce immature and adult mosquito populations.

Homeowners should reduce mosquito habitats around the home. Items that collect rainwater or to store water (for example, plastic containers, 55-gallon drums, buckets, or used automobile tires) should be covered or properly discarded. For more info on how to control mosquitos around your home visit ADPH Vector Control or CDC Mosquito Control.

Malaria Information for Travelers

Anyone who travels to a country where malaria occurs should take precautions against contracting the illness. Please talk with your healthcare provider or visit a travel clinic to take preventive medications and learn how to protect yourself from mosquito bites and other diseases spread by mosquitoes. Visit CDC Travelers' Health before traveling.

Even if you were born in a country where malaria is present or if you have had malaria in the past, you may have lost any immunity that you might have had while living in that country. While antimalarial medications are recommended to prevent severe illness, they can delay symptoms by weeks or months. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness within a year of travel to an affected country should seek immediate medical care and always remind their healthcare providers about any travel.

Treatment

Prescription drugs can treat and cure malaria. The types of drugs and length of treatment depend on the type of malaria, the geographic location where the person was infected, and how sick the person is when treatment starts. Other important factors are age and whether the patient is pregnant.

Visit the CDC to learn more about malaria.

Additional Resources

Page last updated: September 3, 2024