Malaria continues to ‘kill’ because it causes an overwhelming amount of inflammation in vital organs of the body, particularly the brain. Parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria. Infected Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the disease through their bites. Even with available drugs and vaccines, the notion of malaria spreads in hypotheses based on misguided ideas, inappropriate application of parasite-control strategies, and poor perception of the disease. Various stakeholders perpetuate misinformation about malaria and spread it across different platforms, including media outlets. Despite being outdated and sometimes harmful, these misconceptions continue to persist. Several malaria myths remain prevalent, hinder scientific discussions, and interfere with appropriate strategies and action plans aimed at malaria control and elimination. What are some of these misconceptions, and how can we establish facts and eradicate malarial myths?
Myth 1: Malaria Is Only a Problem in Africa
Reality: Malaria Affects Many Regions
Although malaria is very common in sub-Saharan Africa, it is not limited to this region. The disease also occurs in much of South and Southeast Asia, large parts of Latin America, certain areas of the Middle East, and some regions of Europe, including several in Southeast Europe. Parts of the Indian subcontinent, including India and Pakistan, have large numbers of malaria cases, and overall, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that malaria is endemic in 87 countries and territories.
Myth 2: You Can Only Get Malaria in Rural Areas
Reality: Malaria Can Occur in Urban Areas
Malaria often gets labeled as a rural, tropical disease, but urban areas can also feel its impact. Mosquitoes can breed in stagnant water pools, and inadequate sanitation and drainage can contribute to malaria transmission in these environments.
Myth 3: Malaria Is Caused by Poor Hygiene
Reality: Malaria Is a Parasitic Infection
Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, not by poor hygiene. Even though poor hygiene and sanitation encourage mosquito breeding sites at the local level, these do not in themselves prevent malaria. The goal should be to prevent mosquito bites and biting, and reduce mosquito numbers, rather than focus on sanitation.
Myth 4: Malaria Can Be Cured with Over-the-Counter Medication
Reality: Malaria Requires Prescription Medication
Malaria is a serious illness that requires antimalarial drugs, prescribed only by a healthcare provider. There are no over-the-counter medications to treat malaria. The specific selection of treatment will depend plasmodium responsible, the status of the disease, and the region where the infection occurred. Diagnosis and treatment of malaria must take place as quickly as possible to enjoy a symptom-free recovery.
Myth 5: Malaria Vaccines Are Already Widely Available
Reality: Effective Vaccines Are Still in Development
Although there have been promising developments in vaccine research, there is still no fully effective, widely accessible malaria vaccine available. The most advanced vaccine, RTS, S/AS01 (RTS, S), has received approval for limited use in some countries. However, it only offers partial protection and should be combined with other preventive measures for maximum effectiveness. Continued research is essential to enhance the efficacy and coverage of these vaccines.
Myth 6: You Can’t Get Malaria If You’re on Antimalarial Medication
Reality: Antimalarial Medication Is Not 100% Foolproof
Antimalarial drugs provide substantial protection against malaria when taken as directed and are very important for travelers to areas where malaria occurs. However, no medication provides 100 percent protection and strict adherence to drug administration schedules, avoiding mosquito bites and other preventive measures can reduce the risk of malaria infection.
Myth 7: All Mosquitoes Transmit Malaria
Reality: Only Anopheles Mosquitoes Transmit Malaria
Not all mosquitoes carry malaria. Only female Anopheles – of the 3,300 species of Anopheles mosquito – are capable of carrying and transmitting the parasites that cause malaria. About 70 species of Anopheles mosquitoes. Other species of mosquito transmit malaria between different mammal hosts. There are thousands of other mosquito species, most of which are not malaria vectors and do not act as vectors for transmitting the disease from mosquitoes to humans.
Myth 8: You Only Need to Worry About Malaria in Endemic Regions
Reality: Malaria Can Affect Travelers
Travel to malaria-endemic regions poses a risk of malaria for everyone who makes that visit, regardless of their age or general health, the duration of their stay, or the degree to which they take malaria precautions. The risk of infection is sufficient that travelers to most malaria-endemic areas should seek pre-travel health advice about how to prevent malaria, including the use of antimalarial drugs and also mosquito bite prevention.
Myth 9: Malaria Is a Disease of the Past
Reality: Malaria Remains a Global Health Challenge
But malaria is still with us. The disease remains a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. Recent decades have seen important gains in reducing malaria cases and deaths, but the disease remains a major threat, especially in areas with poor access to health care, prevention, and treatment. Malaria will remain a priority for control measures for the foreseeable future.
Myth 10: Malaria Symptoms Are Always Immediate
Reality: Symptoms Can Appear Weeks Later
Symptoms of malaria might not occur until weeks after infection. Symptoms can occur as little as 7 days after infection – though typically symptoms take one to several weeks to manifest, and some forms of malaria have an incubation of up to several months. The delay in symptoms can lead to a challenge in diagnosing and treating the disease effectively, particularly in travelers who might not put the connection together.
Myth 11: Once You’ve Had Malaria, You’re Immune for Life
Reality: Immunity to Malaria Is Not Permanent
Malaria does not provide lifelong immunity; individuals who suffer from malaria can become reinfected if exposed again. While immunity develops over time through repeated exposure, it remains incomplete and non-permanent, necessitating ongoing prophylaxis against reinfection.
Myth 12: Natural Remedies Can Cure Malaria
Reality: Natural Remedies Are Not a Substitute for Medical Treatment
While such natural remedies are often viable ways to ease symptoms or boost general health, they aren’t substitutes for treating the disease. Malaria requires specific antimalarials for effective treatment, but most natural remedies do not provide the life-saving care that malaria patients need. Delaying true medical treatment will only put patients at risk of severe malaria complications or even death.
Myth 13: You Can Prevent Malaria by Simply Using Insect Repellent
Reality: Insect Repellent Is Only One Part of Prevention
Insect repellent is an important part of preventing mosquito bites, but it cannot serve as a single magic bullet against malaria. A truly effective approach to malaria prevention involves using insect repellent alongside other measures, such as sleeping under mosquito nets, using antimalarial drugs if prescribed, and taking measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
People must separate themselves from long-held myths about malaria because these myths can hinder effective national malaria control strategies, tests, and treatment programs. Rumors are a powerful force. But if rumors told us the truth – if you believed them long enough – you could save lives and prevent more than 250 million new malaria cases every year. If we told people that malaria exists everywhere, didn’t manifest due to a lack of hygiene, and demanded medical treatment, public responses to malaria would be far more effective. We can prevent the noise from being a bad thing.
