Malaria

Malaria is a reportable disease in Oklahoma. Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodia. Plasmodium falciparum is the most common strain observed, though P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale are fairly widespread. The disease is transmitted to people by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Malaria may also be transmitted by a blood transfusion from an infected person or by the use of contaminated needles or syringes. Cases of malaria occur in travelers and immigrants returning from parts of southern Asia and Africa. Anyone who travels to or lives in a country where malaria readily occurs is at risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. In some cases nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur.  The time between the bite of an infected mosquito and when symptoms appear depends on the strain of malaria. On average, the time is 12 to 23 days between exposure and when symptoms develop. When someone is infected through a blood transfusion, the time of when symptoms appear depend on the number of parasites transferred but is usually less than two months. If untreated, individuals may develop severe complications and die. With certain types of malaria there may be dormant forms, which may cause relapsing symptoms from months to years after the initial infection.

How to prevent malaria:

Before traveling to an area with regularly occurring malaria, it is recommended to make an appointment with a healthcare provider to discuss taking antimalarial medication preventatively. The area that people are visiting or traveling around helps to determine which anti-malaria medicine should be given. It is very important to take the medication according to directions given by the healthcare provider. Take care not to miss a dose of the medicine. There are no effective homeopathic or natural medications to prevent a person from getting malaria.  CDC’s Travelers’ Health Website is recommended for current information on diseases, medications, vaccinations, local clinics, and travel notices.

In addition to taking antimalarial medication, individuals can can prevent malaria during travel to endemic areas by the following measures to prevent mosquito bites:

• Spraying insecticides on your home's walls to kill adult mosquitoes that come inside.
• Sleeping under bed nets - especially effective if they have been treated with insecticide, and
• Using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved clothing if out of doors especially at night

ADS Resources:
Malaria Fact Sheet  

Other Resources:
CDC Malaria
Medline Malaria
WHO Malaria

Surveillance Resources:
Oklahoma Malaria Cases by Species: Graph 2002-2006
Malaria Summary Data