Malaria

Malaria mosquitoes carrying the Plasmodium parasite occur mainly in countries with a tropical or subtropical climate. Every year some 150-300 residents of the Netherlands report that they have contracted malaria in one of these countries. Although this non-infectious disease is preventable and curable, it kills thousands of people a year worldwide. This is because in many countries it is diagnosed too late and treatment is not effective enough. Malaria is also more dangerous for certain at-risk groups, such as pregnant women, children under the age of five and HIV/AIDS patients.

World Malaria Day is observed every year on 25 April. On this day, the WHO calls upon organisations to work together to rid the world of malaria. A lot of progress has already been made in tackling one of the oldest diseases known to humans. But we are not there yet, and worrying trends still persist.

We are also engaged in malaria research. One study found that Plasmodium parasites affect the human aroma profile to increase transmission. It has also been found that infected under-fives, in particular, develop a body aroma that is much more attractive to the mosquitoes than healthy children.

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Researchers in the Netherlands and Burkina Faso found in their RAPDIF project that young children in Africa are often prescribed both antibiotics and malaria medication when they present with fever, even if the underlying cause of the fever is not clear. Thanks to a newly developed rapid malaria test, sick children with a fever in Africa now receive the correct diagnosis and the correct medication. This also helps curb antimicrobial resistance. The project received a Parel (Pearl Award) (only in Dutch) for these great results.