Communicable disease - Malaria in Ethiopia

• What is malaria?

  A communicable zoonotic disease spread from person to person caused by a parasite.
• Where is malaria most prevalent in the world?

  • Southern Hemisphere - the tropics
• Which country has the highest confirmed cases of malaria and how many?

  • Nigeria
  • 100 per 1000 people having malaria
• What is a vector?

  A living organism that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans.
• What factors affect the patterns of malaria?

  • Climate -temperatures, rainfall, humidity influences habitats of disease vectors
  • Relief - influence of altitude on temperature and rainfall patterns can influence habitats of vectors
  • Water sources - Stagnant water affects the prevalence of water-borne diseases
• Why is rainfall a key factor to influencing the patterns of malaria?

  High rainfall can increase the amount of stagnant water which vectors can then use to breed and lay eggs in.
• What are some examples of vector borne diseases?

  • Malaria
  • Dengue fever
  • West Nile virus
• What type of conditions does malaria need to spread?

  • Temperatures of between 18-40 degrees
  • Humidity over 60%
• What type of disease spread was Malaria?

  endemic
• Why is rainfall an influencing factor in the transmission of malaria?

  The abundance of water such as puddles after rainy seasons provide female anopheles mosquitos a place to lay their eggs and breed
• Why is temperatures an influencing factor in the transmission of malaria?

  When average temperatures are between 18-40 degrees the mosquito can take in more blood meals and increase the amount of eggs laid, increasing the number of vectors
• Why is humidity an influencing factor in the transmission of malaria?

  Where average humidity is over 60% vectors become more active and have a better chance at survival.
• What type of relief is Malaria most commonly associated with?

  Low lands due less barriers restricting the spread of disease (Hagerstrand's Model)