Malaria kills over a million people a year and is second only to tuberculosis in its impact on world health. The parasitic disease is present in 90 countries and infects one in 10 of the world's population - mainly people living in Africa, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Colombia and the Solomon Islands. There are four main types of malaria, all spread via moquitoes. Ninety per cent of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa where it is the main cause of death and a major threat to child health. Worldwide, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
Pregnant women are also particularly vulnerable to the disease, which is curable if diagnosed early.
The economic impact of the disease is immense, causing many lost days of work and loss of tourism and investment. Most people survive a bout of malaria after a 10-20 day illness, but it is important to spot the symptoms early. The first is high fever, followed a few hours later by chills. Two to four days later, this cycle is repeated. The most serious forms of the disease can affect the kidneys and brain and can cause anaemia, coma and death.