Malaria Flashcards
Causes of Malaria
Malaria is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito, as they possess plasmodium. There needs to be stagnant water present because mosquitos breed there by laying larvae on the surface. It needs to be a hot, wet climate of 15 - 40 degrees celsius, because it is the natural habitat of the female anopheles mosquito. There needs to be areas of shade and vegetation because the mosquito rests and digests its blood meal.
Human Factor
Man made constructions because these increase surface area of stagnant water therefore increasing the amount of breeding sites for female anopheles mosquitoes. Farming systems such as padi fields because they increase the amount of stagnant water when flooding the land for rice crops to grow.
Nearby settlements provide a blood supply because there are lots of humans living close together.
Impact: Families
As medical care is expensive, the burden of care for the sick is on family members.
As more people contract malaria the earning power of the area is reduced.
The government has to divert investment away from other services (education) for health care facilities and drugs.
Management: Planting Eucalyptus Trees
Planting Eucalyptus Trees -These trees soak up extra water, which helps drain breading grounds.
Management: Spraying oil/egg whites on Breeding grounds
This puts an layer on top of the stagnant water which drowns and suffocates the mosquito larvae. This isn’t effective as food is scarce in developing countries so using egg whites is seen as a waste of valuable food resources.
Management: Mosquitos traps
They mimic animals and humans by emitting a small amount of CO2 in order to lure the mosquitos into the trap where they are killed. This is effective on a small scale but when used in big areas it isn’t as mosquitos breed to quickly.
Management: Breeding genetically modified sterile mosquitos
To reduce the number of female mosquitos.
Management: Infect coconuts with BTI bacteria
Infect coconuts with BTI bacteria and then throw them into stagnant water, which will encourage the larvae to eat them. This destroys there stomach linings and kills them. This is very effective as it is a cheap and environmentally friendly solution, as 2/3 coconuts clears a pond for 45 days.
Management: Muddy Loach
By putting fish into areas of stagnant water, the mosquito larvae will be eaten by muddy loach fish reducing the larvae. This is effective as the fish can also be eaten by the humans to add protein to their diet.
Management: Drainage of breeding grounds
The areas where mosquitos bread (ponds, swamps, paddy fields) are drained. Every 7 days as it takes longer than this for larvae to develop into adult mosquitos. This isn’t effective as there is too much stagnant water to drain and in tropical areas there can be heavy rainfall every day so more water can appear all the time.
Management: Bed nets
They are placed over beds at night to stop mosquitos from biting people and are coated with insecticide. This is very effective as mosquitos are more active at dusk than dawn and they are very affordable.
Management: DDT
Insecticide is sprayed on ponds, walls, trees etc to kill the mosquitos by destroying their nervous system. This kills the anopheles mosquito and stops them spreading disease. This was effective, but now not so much as the mosquitos can become immune. as well as it being damaging for the environment and expensive.
Impact: tourism
Tourist and foreign investors avoid these areas.
Impact: Financial
People who survive malaria become very weak through illness. And harvest time coincides with peak biting season and large numbers are unable to farm which slows economic growth and is major cause of poverty. So they are unable to earn money. And then families cannot earn essentials, for example, food and education.
