In this modern age, one would think that certain diseases would be eradicated by now, what with new medicine and ways to prevent disease, especially those brought about by carriers such as mosquitoes. But in the first six months of this year, more than four thousand cases of Malaria have been reported in Palawan. The government is worried that a full-blown epidemic may arise if they cannot stem the tide of the spread. And to think Palawan is one of the tourist destinations of the country.
Just like Dengue, Malaria is spread by a mosquito, specifically the female Anopheles species. A mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite in its immature form bites a human. The immature parasites then enter the bloodstream of the human. They find their way to the liver where they mature and reproduce. This is when the symptoms of Malaria come out. Fever, headaches, fatigue and vomiting are just some of the symptoms that arise when Malaria is present. Severe, untreated cases may lead to seizures, coma or even death. The immature parasites then travel the bloodstream, and when a mosquito ingests a blood meal, they enter the mosquito thereby repeating the cycle. This is the reason why if left unchecked, the disease spreads rapidly.
There are medications to treat Malaria, and to serve as prophylaxis for those traveling to known Malaria endemic places. But nothing beats hitting the parasite at its source. There must be adequate mosquito control. We are all aware of this, since Dengue is common all over the country. Stagnant water must be eliminated or treated with some form of chemical to kill larvae. The use of insecticide indoors must be strictly monitored as these are harmful to humans and pets as well. And the use of the humble mosquito net must not be overlooked, especially in poorer communities. The idea is to break the cycle. If the mosquito is not able to feed, then there is no transmission and reproduction of the parasite.
Malaria has been eradicated in North America, Europe and some parts of the Middle East. It is still prevalent in Africa, Asia, South America. In other words, the poorer countries. Countries with money to spend have effectively eradicated Malaria by controlling both the mosquito population and bite occurrence. Areas with low population density are usually free of Malaria, so there is no surprise that poor countries are places where mosquitoes will thrive. Fighting the mosquito population with chemicals requires money as with the treatment of stagnant water. But cleaning your surroundings of small pockets of stagnant water, along with the use of mosquito nets will go a long way.
It would be nice if we lived in a world free of mosquito-borne diseases. But the ubiquitous insect is here to stay. It is considered the world's deadliest killer to date, because of the diseases they transmit. More soldiers died of Malaria than bullets in some countries. And while we may not be able to make the mosquito extinct, we sure can do something about preventing it from feeding and perhaps uncontrollably growing in number.