Number of malaria cases in Moldova on the rise

The number of cases of malaria imported into Moldova has increased considerably during January-March this year. Thirty-six cases were reported in this period, as against 5 in the corresponding period last year, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Ministry of Health. Last year, there were recorded 44 cases of malaria, all imported: one case from Russia, two cases from Afghanistan, by one case from Chad and Congo and 38 cases (86%) from Sudan. It was established that most of the infected persons are male and are aged between 21 and 50. The data was made public by the Ministry of Health on the occasion of the World Malaria Day that will be marked on April 25 for the second consecutive year. This year, the World Health Organization aims to attract attention to this global disease and engage as many world organizations as possible in the fight against malaria. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. It is one of the most common infectious diseases and an enormous public health problem. Each year, 300-350 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, and about two million people die, most of them young children in Africa, south of the Sahara. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. The parasites multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that include symptoms of anemia (light-headedness, shortness of breath, tachycardia, etc.), as well as other general symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and, in severe cases, coma, and death. The tropical malaria is extremely dangerous. It accounts for 98% of the deaths from malaria. The persons that do not have immunity to malaria (the Europeans) and travel to regions where the disease is widely spread are the most vulnerable to it. Africa is considered the most seriously affected zone. It is followed by Southeastern Asia, Latin America and Near East. The European countries are free from malaria. The disease here can be only imported. Out of the about 10,000 cases of malaria recorded in Europe each year, 75% are in France, the UK, Germany and Italy following the free movement of the people and tourists.