Malaria is a potentially serious parasitic disease that causes infection of the red blood cells. It is transmitted to people by the Anopheles mosquito. Of the 4 types of malaria, the most serious type is falciparum malaria.
Malaria is a major problem in areas of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
Unless precautions are taken, any person living in or traveling to a country where malaria is present can get the disease. Malaria is not a problem in Hawaii because the Anopheles mosquito is not found here. However, persons who were infected with malaria overseas have been reported with onset of symptoms after arrival in Hawaii. One gets malaria when an infected Anopheles mosquito bites a person and injects malaria parasites into the blood. The malaria parasites then travel through the bloodstream to the liver and eventually infect the red blood cells.