DISTRIBUTION
The pathogen is native to Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The disease was eradicated in Europe by the 1970s, but in recent years there has been an increase in the number of imported cases. The latter poses an increasing threat, because spread by local mosquitoes, secondary infections develop from imported cases, as a result of which a fatal case has already been recorded. Malaria was also present in Hungary for centuries. The last case was in 1959, and the WHO declared the country malaria-free in 1963. Currently, the number of imported cases is low.
AFFECTED HOST SPECIES
Four Plasmodium species, including P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae only infect humans. However, several other Plasmodium species are specialized to infect different vertebrate groups, such as monkeys, rodents, and birds, and have similar life cycles. These species do not pose a risk to humans.
TRANSMISSION AND VECTORS
Its most common vectors are the Anopheles mosquitoes, which are also native to Hungary (several species are known, most of which do not feed on human blood), but it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or during childbirth.
SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of malaria is fever, usually a typical fever attack accompanied by chills. In addition, muscle pain, headache, malaise, sweating, fatigue, dizziness, muscle and joint pain, possibly dry cough and gastrointestinal complaints, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps may occur. Complications of infection with P. falciparum species can even result in death.
TREATMENT, PREVENTION
The disease can be cured with timely medication. Two vaccines have been developed: the RTS,S/Mosquirix, which is given to children, 3 doses are required before the age of 2, then a fourth one will provide additional protection for another 1-2 years, reduces the risk of serious illness requiring hospitalisation by 30%; the other, R21/Matrix-M, which has a higher efficiency of 77% according to tests. efficiency. In addition, protection against mosquitoes that spread malaria also plays an important role in prevention.