Prevent malaria with these tips till an effective vaccine is developed

Australian scientists are now a step closer to developing an effective vaccine for malaria. Till then, here are prevention tips for you this monsoon.

By: Paulami Pan | | Updated: July 1, 2016 7:06 pm

Monsoon is finally here. With the onset of rains and the subsequent clogging of drains and sewers, mosquitoes are going to get the perfect breeding ground. You must have already known that ‘mosquitoes’ are the agents of malaria. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, sweats, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Here are some complications of malaria that you should know.

Malaria is a vector-borne, infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and affects the red blood cells. It is considered to be one of the deadliest diseases in India, owing to the number of lives it claims every year. Scientists have been striving to evaluate an effective vaccine against malaria since decades, but have miserably failed in their enterprise as none of the developed vaccines could prevent the disease for long. Suffering from malaria? Know what you should eat!

Australian researchers are a step closer to developing a vaccine against malaria, a statement said on Friday. Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered a way to stop the malaria parasite invading healthy red blood cells, Xinhua news agency reported. Professor Alan Cowman who led the study said in the statement that the malaria parasite could not penetrate a human red blood cell when key proteins were deleted. ‘These findings hold great promise for understanding the function of these proteins and their development as vaccines,’ Cowman said. ‘Developing new vaccines for malaria is a global research priority.’ It was noted that approximately half the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria each year, with more than 200 million people infected. Researchers also noted that existing anti-malarial drugs were becoming less effective as the malaria parasite developed resistance to treatments. The disease kills up to 450,000 people each year, mainly children aged under five. Know the various treatments for malaria.

Usually doctors perform a simple prick test to diagnose the disease, but if untreated, it can be life-threatening. We all know that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Here are some precautionary measures against malaria. It is important to control the breeding of mosquitoes to prevent the spread of malaria.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Hence, make sure you clean up or even better, get rid of all nearby sources harbouring standing water. Do NOT store water except in closed containers.
Avoid going out immediately after dusk. This is the time of the day when mosquitoes strike the most. If you reside in a mosquito-infested area, protect your house with mosquito repellant screens, window nets and fibre glass meshes.
Wear covered clothes, and apply mosquito repellant cream on the exposed parts of your body before going out.
Use mosquito nets for sleeping. Also spray your rooms with repellant spray from time to time.
Before travelling to a malaria prone area, consult your doctor as chemoprophylaxis is administered to people who travel in such places. Also, find out these amazing ways to keep mosquitoes at bay!

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Shutterstock (Image for representational purpose only)

Published : July 1, 2016 5:38 pm | Updated:July 1, 2016 7:06 pm

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