Mosquitoes can transmit a number of
deadly diseases when they bite. Historically, the
most important mosquito-borne diseases have been malaria,
filariasis and viruses such as yellow fever,
dengue and West Nile fever. Malaria still
contributes to high death rates in developing
countries and to global poverty. West Nile fever
has, in recent years, generated a lot of concern
in the US.
Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite
called a plasmodium. The parasite infects red
blood cells causing a relapsing fever. During the
parasite's life cycle certain stages attack the
liver. Death from malaria is often caused by liver
failure.
Until relatively recently, quinine
was the only medicine for the treatment of malaria
and was produced from the bark of the cinchoa
tree. Synthetic drugs
have now largely replaced quinine for the
treatment of malaria.
CDC
- Malaria Web Site
