Page last updated
15 December 2021
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito (i.e. the female Anopheles mosquito), which feeds on humans.
FAQ
What is malaria?
There are five types of parasites that cause malaria in humans: Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium falciparum. Initially, the parasites roam in the bloodstream for a short time before moving on to infect the liver and multiply. After about 6–16 days (depending on which parasite it is), the parasite returns to the bloodstream to infect and multiply inside the red blood cells.
Sources & Citations
- NSW Government, Department of Health, Malaria fact sheet. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/malaria.aspx (accessed 10 November 2021).
- Victorian State Government, Better Health Channel, Malaria. Available at https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/malaria (accessed 10 November 2021).
- World Health Organisation, Malaria Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/ (accessed 10 November 2021).
MAT-AU-2102441 Date of preparation December 2021
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