A Doctor’s Views On Busting Some Myths And Revealing the Truth About Malaria

Myths and facts about malaria often skew people’s knowledge of the disease and how they react to it. A prevalent misperception is that malaria only affects people who live in rural regions and may be transmitted via unintentional contact. Actually, malaria is a disease that spreads only by mosquito bites and may afflict anyone, wherever in the world.

Since they are the only species that can spread malaria, Anopheles mosquitoes are essential to the disease’s spread. This refutes the myth that malaria is carried by all mosquitoes. Dr. Susanta Kumar Ghosh, the Scientific Advisor of Eco BioTraps and previously of the ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research in Bangalore, spoke about common misconceptions about malaria with Jagran English.

There are many myths and misunderstandings about malaria, a disease that has long affected human health, which may make it more difficult to avoid and cure. Distinguishing reality from myth is essential in the fight against this mosquito-borne disease, as it may lead to misunderstandings about its transmission and misconceptions about immunity and severity.

In order to have a better understanding of this worldwide health concern, let’s examine some prevalent misconceptions about malaria and learn the truths behind them, according Dr. Susanta. The theme of the 2024 society Malaria Day is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.” This highlights the need of full participation from people, communities, governments, and civil society in order to achieve the ultimate goal of eliminating malaria.

1. Myth: Only tropical regions are affected by malaria

Fact: Malaria may occur in temperate climates, but it is more common in tropical and subtropical areas. Although they are less frequent and often connected to travel and migration, cases have been observed in regions such as Europe and North America.

2. Myth: Being Near Standing Water Causes Malaria

Fact: Although standing water is a common breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites, being near water does not itself cause malaria. Humans get malaria by the bite of an infected mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite.

3. Myth: A Virus Causes Malaria

Factual statement: A parasite, not a virus, causes malaria. Humans get the Plasmodium parasite by being bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito. Plasmodium comes in numerous species, the most prevalent being P. falciparum and P. vivax, which may be deadly if not identified and treated in a timely manner.

4. Myth: Antibiotics Can Easily Treat Malaria

Fact: Since malaria is a parasitic illness rather than a bacterial one, it cannot be treated with drugs. Instead, depending on the kind and patterns of drug resistance, antimalarial medications such chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs), and others are utilized for therapy.

5. Myth: Only Humans Are Affected by Malaria

Factual statement: Although the malaria parasite mostly infects humans, it may also infect other species. On the other hand, these infections usually do not play a major role in the human transmission of malaria. Plasmodium knowlesi, the fifth parasite that causes malaria in humans, mostly affects monkeys and is found in parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia.

6. Myth: If you have malaria, you’ll never again

Factual statement: A single bout of malaria does not provide lifetime protection. After many infections, immunity may develop, but it’s not always there and might fade over time, particularly if a person travels far from regions where malaria is widespread.

7. Myth: Malaria is Spread by All Mosquitoes

Fact: Only specific types of female Anopheles mosquitoes are capable of spreading malaria. Not every mosquito carries the Plasmodium parasite, and not every Anopheles species is a malaria carrier.

8. Myth: There Is No Serious Malaria Disease

Factual statement: If malaria is not treated immediately and efficiently, it may result in serious consequences such cerebral malaria, multiorgan dysfunction, and even death. This is particularly true if P. falciparum is the source of the illness.

9. Myth: Thanks to modern medicine, malaria is no longer an issue

Factual statement: Despite advancements in preventive and control measures, malaria remains a serious health risk in many regions of the globe, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Its persistence is attributed to a number of factors, including environmental changes, lack of access to healthcare, medicine resistance, and pesticide resistance.

10. Myth: The Only Reliable Way to Prevent Malaria Is With Mosquito Nets

Fact: Although they are just temporary solutions, mosquito nets, including long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs), may stop mosquito bites and the spread of malaria. Prevention of malaria is mostly dependent on long-term, scientifically based eradication measures such as the deployment of environmentally friendly ovitraps as biological control and source reduction agents.

Finally, Dr. Susanta said, “It is critical to comprehend these myths and facts in order to increase public awareness of malaria and to support effective prevention and treatment strategies.”