1: Malaria In South Asia: Eradication And Resurgence During The Second Half Of The Twentieth Century (advances In Asian Human-environmental Research)
by Rais Akhtar /
2009 / English / PDF
9.4 MB Download
Malaria is one of the most widespread and devastating infectious
diseases in the world. More than half the world population residing
in over 100 countries is at risk of infection from this
vector-borne disease. An estimated 250–500 million mal- ial cases
occur each year, resulting in nearly one million deaths, the
overwhelming majority of which are children. Because of the
magnitude of the associated fata- ties, development experts
consider malaria a ‘silent tsunami,’ comparing its death toll to
the Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT) that ravaged several countries of
South and Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004. That tsunami killed
some 300,000 people (including children) at once. Globally,
malarial deaths account for about 9% of all childhood deaths each
year. However, with malaria more than most fatal d- eases,
mortality is a small fraction of morbidity. Malaria is a
debilitating disease, particularly for the adult population. In
addition to children, pregnant women and migrating populations are
most v- nerable to malaria. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth
weight are common among pregnant women who are infected with this
disease. Malaria manifests itself through recurrent fever and
chills, with associated symptoms such as anemia and an enlarged
spleen. If a person survives the disease, he or she will develop a
certain degree of immunity for some years. But malaria victims are
not only deprived of energy, they also face an increased risk of
other diseases taking hold in the weakened body.
Malaria is one of the most widespread and devastating infectious
diseases in the world. More than half the world population residing
in over 100 countries is at risk of infection from this
vector-borne disease. An estimated 250–500 million mal- ial cases
occur each year, resulting in nearly one million deaths, the
overwhelming majority of which are children. Because of the
magnitude of the associated fata- ties, development experts
consider malaria a ‘silent tsunami,’ comparing its death toll to
the Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT) that ravaged several countries of
South and Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004. That tsunami killed
some 300,000 people (including children) at once. Globally,
malarial deaths account for about 9% of all childhood deaths each
year. However, with malaria more than most fatal d- eases,
mortality is a small fraction of morbidity. Malaria is a
debilitating disease, particularly for the adult population. In
addition to children, pregnant women and migrating populations are
most v- nerable to malaria. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth
weight are common among pregnant women who are infected with this
disease. Malaria manifests itself through recurrent fever and
chills, with associated symptoms such as anemia and an enlarged
spleen. If a person survives the disease, he or she will develop a
certain degree of immunity for some years. But malaria victims are
not only deprived of energy, they also face an increased risk of
other diseases taking hold in the weakened body.
