Malaria prevention

How can we prevent malaria?

Question # 1 Do you close the doors and windows in the evening and in the morning?

Anopheles mosquitoes enter the house between 17:00 and 21:30 and again in early hours of morning. They start biting by late evening and the peak of biting activity is at midnight and early hours of morning.

By keeping the windows and doors closed between 17:00 and 22:00 and again in early morning, one can prevent the entry of these mosquitoes into the house.

https://www.malariasite.com/anopheles-mosquito/

Question # 2 Do you wear long pants and a shirt with long sleeves?

To avoid malaria infection, cover your skin with clothing.

Examples:  Long sleeved shirts.  Long pants.

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/4/493/412860

Question # 3 Do you have a mosquito net over the bed you sleep in?

Analyses from Haiti show that insecticide-treated bed-nets are effective in preventing malaria where vectors primarily bite indoors and late at night.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(16)30238-8/fulltext

Insecticide-treated bed nets are among the most powerful tools against malaria. The nets work in 2 ways: 1. They block mosquitoes from biting people while they sleep.

2. The insecticide kills mosquitoes that try to penetrate the webbing and fail.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/11/22/503036774/the-new-debate-over-bed-nets

A trial in the Bolivian Amazon showed that episodes of malaria were reduced by 80% among persons using insect repellent and insecticide-treated bed netting.

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0515/p973.html

Bed nets are easily installed over beds or floor mats, can be readily moved, protect one or more persons, provide some warmth and enhanced privacy at night, are generally affordable, and can last for years with proper care.

https://www.nap.edu/read/10539/chapter/8#85

Question # 4 Do you impregnate bed nets and clothes you wear?

Bed nets and clothes can be impregnated with an insecticide to increase their effectiveness in protecting children.

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/4/493/412860

The process of impregnating and hanging the nets is not complicated.

Studies have clearly demonstrated that motivated community members can be taught to use bed nets properly and to do the impregnation, drying, hanging, and maintenance with only modest assistance from local governmental health staff.

https://www.nap.edu/read/10539/chapter/8#85

Question # 5 Do you take malaria medicine?

There is medicine to treat malaria. There is also medicine which makes it less likely that you’ll get the disease.

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0515/p973.html https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/malaria-pills#1