Causes of Malaria

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Malaria is caused by four different types of parasite: Plasmodium Falciparum, Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium Vivax and Plasmodium Ovale. A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism and feeds directly from it.

The disease is spread when the female of the Anopheles species of mosquito bites someone carrying the malaria parasite, then bites someone else; passing on the parasite.

Malaria occurs when the parasite passes through the blood into the liver, where it grows and develops. After it has completed its development it travels back into the blood stream, eventually attacking and destroying the red blood cells that are needed to carry oxygen around the body.

The longer you stay in a malarious country, the more likely you are contract the disease.