Understanding malaria

What causes malaria?

Malaria is caused by plasmodia, microscopic parasites that are widespread in the animal kingdom. In human malaria, the plasmodia are spread from person to person by anopheles mosquitoes. These ‘malarial’ mosquitoes live side by side with man in many tropical or warm and wet regions of the world, so the parasite, and the disease it causes, is easily spread.

More information on parasites

Human malarial plasmodia have a very complex life cycle, which involves both man and mosquito.