April 26, 2024, is the 17th National Malaria Day. Malaria, one of the world's most serious parasitic diseases, continues to threaten billions of lives worldwide. The theme of this year's National Malaria Day campaign is "Preventing the Re-spread of Malaria and Consolidating the Achievements of Elimination", which aims to mobilize the whole society not to ignore malaria, prevent the re-transmission of malaria, protect the health of people entering and leaving the country, and continue to consolidate the achievements of malaria elimination.
Do you know what malaria is?
Malaria, commonly known as "swinging" and "malaria", is an infectious disease caused by infection through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes or the transfusion of blood containing Plasmodium, and is a preventable and treatable blood parasitic disease. There are five kinds of human Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi, which can parasitize human liver cells and red blood cells.
The global malaria situation remains dire
According to the World Malaria Report 2023 released by the World Health Organization, in 2022, malaria epidemics were found in 85 countries and regions around the world, with an estimated number of malaria cases of about 249 million, an increase of 5 million cases compared with 2021.
At present, malaria is mainly endemic in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Oceania and other regions, among which Africa and Southeast Asia are highly prevalent. The mainland has been certified by the World Health Organization for malaria elimination on June 30, 2021, but a large number of imported malaria cases are still reported every year, critical cases and deaths occur from time to time, and the epidemic factors of malaria transmission have not been eliminated, and the risk of retransmission persists. Therefore, malaria cannot be ignored, and the whole society still needs to attach great importance to preventing the import and retransmission of malaria and continue to consolidate the results of elimination.
Clinical manifestations of malaria infection
The typical clinical manifestations of malaria are periodic chills, fever, sweating and fever, and severe malaria can cause impaired consciousness, severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, coma and even death. It is worth noting that the early symptoms of malaria are very similar to influenza, which makes it easy for most people to mistake malaria for a cold, and without timely and correct drug treatment, it gradually develops into severe malaria, which is life-threatening.
Malaria prevention is better than cure
(1) Raise awareness of prevention
Key groups who need to travel or work in countries or regions with a high risk of malaria should grasp the knowledge of malaria prevention in a timely manner, raise awareness of malaria risk prevention, and take protective measures.
(2) Prevent mosquito bites
The most effective way to prevent malaria is to prevent mosquito bites and try to avoid activities in the wild during peak mosquito activity (dusk, night). Wear long clothes and long sleeves and pants for outdoor activities, and apply repellents to exposed skin areas. Use mosquito nets when sleeping, install screen doors and windows in houses, pay attention to environmental hygiene, and do a good job of mosquito control.
(3) Early detection and early diagnosis and treatment
Key groups of people traveling or working in countries or regions with a high risk of malaria should be suspected of malaria infection if they have uncomfortable symptoms such as chills, fever, and sweating, and seek medical attention in a timely manner, and take the initiative to inform their personal travel and residence history when seeking medical treatment. Doctors should also take the initiative to inquire about the patient's epidemiological history, and adhere to the principles of safety, effectiveness, reasonableness, and standardization, and implement medical treatment in a timely manner. Malaria patients should complete standardized treatment according to the doctor's instructions.
(Source: China Center for Disease Control and Prevention)