MALARIA
Malaria is transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes and caused by
protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The four species of
Plasmodium that can infect humans are Plasmodium falciparum and
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae. The
two former are the most serious. Symptoms of malaria are fever,
chills, and flu-like illness. Severe complications can develop
if left untreated. Approximately 515 million cases of malaria
occur worldwide each year, and over one million people deaths,
mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Bednets,
insecticides, and antimalarial drugs are currently employed to
fight malaria. However, malaria is a disease of poverty, and is
also the cause of poverty; the socioeconomic impact of malaria
is vast. Eradication of this disease is therefore expected to
lead to major improvements in the endemic areas.
For more information on malaria see:
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http://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/
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http://www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/
DENGUE
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by dengue
viruses that belong to the Flavivirus genus. Four antigenically
distinct serotypes exist (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4) and
infection with one serotypes results in immunity to only that
serotype. Dengue viruses are spread by Aedes mosquitoes. The
Aedes aegypti is the most common dengue vector while
Aedes albopictus is also emerging as a potentially
important vector. The geographic
distribution of dengue is similar to malaria but more frequently
associated to urban areas because of the vectors capacity to
adapt to these man-made environments.
For more information on dengue see:
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http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue/
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http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/
For more information on vector-borne diseases see:
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http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/index.html
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http://www.who.int/heli/risks/vectors/vector/en/index.html
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