Malaria
Definition
Malaria is a serious, infectious disease spread by certain kinds of mosquitoes. It is common in tropical climates and is characterized by chills, fevers, and an enlarged spleen. These symptoms reappear again and again. The disease can be treated with medication, but it tends to come back even after being cured. Malaria is endemic in many developing countries. An endemic disease is one that occurs frequently in a particular location. Isolated, limited outbreaks of malaria sometimes occur in the United States.
Description
Malaria is not a serious problem in the United States. Over the past ten years, only about 1,200 cases have been reported each year in this country. In most cases, a person was infected outside the United States while traveling on business or on vacation.
Malaria is a far more serious problem in other parts of the world. Between 300 million and 500 million people in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Central and South America have the disease. About two million people die of the disease every year. Most of these deaths occur in southern Africa.
A person can have malaria more than once. In some parts of Africa, people have up to forty bouts of malaria during their lifetime.
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