The parasites are eventually passed on to another human when he or she is bitten by an infected mosquito. The parasites then settle in the person's liver cells, where they grow and multiply, but do not yet cause symptoms. In a process that can take anywhere from a week to several months, the malaria parasites invade the person's red blood cells. Once inside the red blood cells, the parasites reproduce and cause the cells to burst, releasing even more parasites into the person's bloodstream. At this point, the person begins to feel sick.
Malaria is spread to humans through mosquito bites.
When left untreated, the bursting red blood cells can stick to blood vessels throughout the body, a painful and potentially deadly situation if cell fragments clog vital vessels leading to the brain and heart. Hopkins' Sommer hopes that the creation of the new malaria research facility will lead to the development of cheaper, more accessible drugs to combat the disease in Africa . According to WHO, there is a particular need for research on ways to treat strains of malaria that are resistant to current drugs. According to WHO, malaria parasites are more likely to adapt and become resistant to drugs when a malaria-infected patient does not finish his or her entire treatment regimen. In many remote parts of Africa, patients are not under continuous physician care and will often stop taking their medication when their symptoms disappear.