In Which Region Of Africa Is Malaria Most Common?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The highest transmission is found in

Africa South of the Sahara and in parts of Oceania such as Papua New Guinea

. In cooler regions, transmission will be less intense and more seasonal. There, P. vivax might be more prevalent because it is more tolerant of lower ambient temperatures.

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Where in Africa is malaria most common?

Disease burden

Most were in the WHO African Region, with an estimated 200 million cases, or 92% of global cases. In 2017, five countries accounted for nearly half of all malaria cases worldwide. Four of these were in Africa:

Nigeria

(25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), Mozambique (5%), and Uganda (4%).

Which countries in Africa have malaria?

In 2019, malaria accrued over 229 million cases globally; twenty-nine countries, sub-Saharan African region, accounted for the majority (95%) of these cases.

Nigeria

(27%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), Mozambique (4%) and Niger (3%) accounted for about 51% of all cases globally [1].

What region is malaria from?

The history of malaria stretches from its prehistoric origin as a zoonotic disease in

the primates of Africa

through to the 21st century. A widespread and potentially lethal human infectious disease, at its peak malaria infested every continent, except Antarctica.

In which part of Africa is there a risk of being affected with malaria?

Malaria Introduction

Around 60% of these clinical cases, and about 80% of malaria deaths, occur in

sub-Saharan Africa

. Malaria constitutes a major barrier to social and economic development in the region. In South Africa, malaria is mainly transmitted along the border areas.

Why is malaria most prevalent in Africa?

Africa is the most affected due to a combination of factors:

A very efficient mosquito (Anopheles gambiae complex)

is responsible for high transmission. The predominant parasite species is Plasmodium falciparum , which is the species that is most likely to cause severe malaria and death.

Why is malaria so common in Africa south of the Sahara?

It may be surprising that most cases occur on the African continent. Malaria is common in the area south of the Sahara Desert (called sub-Saharan Africa)

because the disease spreads almost entirely in poor regions with tropical and subtropical climates

. The local weather allows for transmission to occur year round.

Where is malaria-free in Africa?

The assured malaria-free safari areas are

the Eastern Cape

, the Pilanesberg National Park and the Madikwe Game Reserve, the Waterberg (just 3 hours north of Johannesburg), and last but not least the Nambiti Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

Which three countries in Africa have the highest number of malaria?

In 2019, the region was home to 94% of all malaria cases and deaths. Six countries accounted for approximately half of all malaria deaths worldwide:

Nigeria

(23%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), United Republic of Tanzania (5%), Burkina Faso (4%), Mozambique (4%) and Niger (4%).

What country has the highest malaria rate?

1

Burkina Faso

90.74
2 Sierra Leone 72.49 3 Mali 61.16 4 DR Congo 58.45 5 Central Africa 55.04

What regions of the earth are endemic with malaria?

The highest transmission is found in

Africa South of the Sahara and in parts of Oceania such as Papua New Guinea

. In cooler regions, transmission will be less intense and more seasonal. There, P. vivax might be more prevalent because it is more tolerant of lower ambient temperatures.

When did malaria start in Africa?

The malaria parasites of humans are thought to have evolved in tropical Africa from

2.5 million to 30 million years ago

(P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae are among the oldest of the group).

In which season malaria is more common?

Answer: Malaria is more common in

rainy seasons

. This is because mosquitoes (carrier of malaria)need water to breed. They breed in the stagnant waters found in pools during the rainy season.

Is South Africa a malaria area?

South Africa poses a rather low threat of malaria as the disease is

only mildly present in

the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo (including the Kruger National Park), and Mpumalanga. Do some research about the country that you’re planning to visit and find out if the area is in a high- risk malaria region.

Why is malaria more common in poor countries?

The High Cost of Malaria

Malaria is

directly related to poverty and economic inequality

in underdeveloped countries due to the exponential costs that these countries must face by both individuals and governments.

How has malaria affected Africa?

Once seen as a consequence of poverty, malaria is now regarded as one of its causes. Experts say malaria

slows economic growth in Africa by up to 1.3 percent per year

. Rural and poor people are especially at risk because they are least likely to have the means to prevent and treat malaria.

Why is malaria more common in tropical regions?


An increase in temperature, rainfall, and humidity may cause a proliferation of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes at higher altitudes

, resulting in an increase in malaria transmission in areas in which it was not reported earlier.

What countries affect malaria?

Malaria cases

Nineteen countries in sub-Saharan

Africa and India

carried almost 85% of the global malaria burden. Six countries accounted for more than half of all malaria cases worldwide: Nigeria (25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), and Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Niger (4% each).

Which is the only southern Africa country that is not a malaria area?

How successes have been achieved. Africa has historically had a high transmission rate. Southern Africa has been particularly successful in reducing its case load.

The Seychelles

and Mauritius have completely eliminated malaria.

Where do malaria mosquitoes live?

The larvae occur in a wide range of habitats but most species prefer clean, unpolluted water. Larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes have been found in fresh- or salt-water marshes,

mangrove swamps, rice fields

, grassy ditches, the edges of streams and rivers, and small, temporary rain pools.

Is Serengeti malaria free?

The short grassland that dominates the park makes it one of the protected areas with low risks of Malaria. It’s the combination of the short grasses, few water catchment areas and the long dry spell that has contributed to fewer mosquito rates hence making the Serengeti national park

malaria cases very minimal

.

Which areas have malaria free game reserves in South Africa?

There are three main malaria free game reserves :

Madikwe Game Reserve, the Waterberg and the Eastern Cape

which all offer Big Five game-viewing (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard) as well as plenty of general game.

Which country is declared malaria free by WHO in 2019?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded

China

with a malaria-free certification. According to the WHO website, the status has been achieved after 70 years of effort. While in the 1940s, there used to be 30 million cases of the disease annually, today the country is free from malaria.

Is malaria a pandemic or epidemic?

HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria shouldn’t be labeled as

“just” epidemics

or endemic. They are pandemics that have been beaten in rich countries.

How can malaria be prevented in Africa?

Repellents should be

applied to bare skin

, and clothes can be treated. Other ways to avoid being bitten include burning mosquito coils or using heated insecticide mats in living and sleeping areas at night, and using insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Why malaria is common in rainy season?

Malaria:

Malaria is spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. Case of this disease increase in monsoon season as

there is a problem of water clogging in many areas

which makes it a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Some symptoms include: High fever.

Which region has the highest endemicity disease intensity for malaria?

Which region has the highest endemicity (disease intensity)? [

Sub-Saharan Africa

] ʅ Zoom in to Kenya. ? Why are some areas malaria-free (gray)? [Higher altitudes prevent mosquito and plasmodium survival.]

How common is malaria in Kenya?

In Kenya, there are

an estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths each year

, and those living in western Kenya have an especially high risk of malaria. As it does in many countries around the world, CDC has worked closely with the Kenya Ministry of Health to fight malaria.

Who had malaria first?


Dr. Alphonse Laveran

, a military doctor in France’s Service de Santé des Armées (Health Service of the Armed Forces). The military hospital in Constantine (Algeria), where Laveran discovered the malaria parasite in 1880.

Which season is most suitable for the spread of malaria and why?

Malaria transmission is seasonal in the Amhara region following seasonal patterns of climatic factors; the two main malaria transmission seasons occur in

May–July following the end of the dry season

and in September–December following the end of the wet season.

Which type of mosquito spreads malaria?

Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective

female Anopheles mosquito

. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken from an infected person.

Which country is about to eliminate malaria entirely?

Country/territory Countries certified malaria-free

a , b , c , d , e

Countries where malaria never existed or disappeared without specific measures

f
Africa Algeria 2019 Lesotho 2012
Mauritius

1973

Who has discovered malaria causing mosquitoes and where?

Ross and the Discovery that Mosquitoes Transmit Malaria Parasites.

Sir Ronald Ross

was born in Almora, India in 1857 to Sir C.C.G. Ross, a General in the Indian Army, and his wife Matilda.

Is malaria in Cape Town?

Malaria is endemic in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and in Limpopo (including the Kruger Park and private game reserves which make these provinces so popular with travellers). … City centres like Johannesburg, Durban and

Cape Town are free from malaria

and safe for travellers of all ages.

Where does malaria occur in and around South Africa?

Malaria is endemic in some areas of South Africa, namely

north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo

. September to May is considered the malaria season.

Is St Lucia a malaria area?


St. Lucia has been free of malaria for 15 years

, and throughout the rest of KwaZulu-Natal (including the Elephant Coast) malaria is practically non-existent. Occasionally there are some cases reported in the North of the province, near Kosi Bay and Tembe.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.