page_title: Malaria
section_title: Mosquito control
hierarchical_section_title: Malaria / Prevention / Mosquito control
caption_attribution_description: Man spraying kerosene oil into ponds, water-filled trenches, etc., to protect against mosquitoes carrying malaria. 1912. Name of Expedition: Panama Canal Zone Participants: Seth E. Meek, Samuel F. Hildebrand Expedition Start Date: 1911 Expedition End Date: 1912 Purpose or Aims: Zoology (Fishes) Location: Central America, Panama, Canal Zone Original material: Hand-colored Lantern Slide Digital Identifier: CSZ33982c Learn more about The Field Museum's Library Photo Archives.
context_page_description: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. If not properly treated, people may have recurrences of the disease months later. In those who have recently survived an infection, reinfection usually causes milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria.
  Malaria is caused by single-celled microorganisms of the Plasmodium group. The disease is most commonly spread by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito's saliva into a person's blood. The parasites travel to the liver where they mature and reproduce. Five species of Plasmodium can infect and be spread by humans. Most deaths are caused by P. falciparum, whereas P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae generally cause a milder form of malaria. The species P. knowlesi rarely causes disease in humans.
context_section_description: Vector control refers to methods used to decrease malaria by reducing the levels of transmission by mosquitoes. For individual protection, the most effective insect repellents are based on DEET or picaridin. However, there is insufficient evidence that mosquito repellants can prevent malaria infection. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) have been shown highly effective in preventing malaria among children in areas where malaria is common. Prompt treatment of confirmed cases with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) may also reduce transmission.
caption: Man spraying kerosene oil in standing water, Panama Canal Zone, 1912
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