What is malaria and how deadly is it?

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that causes fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. Without treatment, it can progress to severe complications including organ failure, cerebral malaria, and death. A child dies from malaria every minute globally, making it one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases.

How does malaria spread?

Malaria spreads through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, which primarily bite at night. When a mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests parasites that develop inside the mosquito and are transmitted to the next person it bites. Malaria can also rarely spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, or from mother to fetus.

What are the different types of malaria?

Five Plasmodium species cause malaria in humans: P. falciparum (most deadly, causes severe malaria), P. vivax (most widespread, can lie dormant), P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. P. falciparum causes the vast majority of deaths, particularly in Africa. P. vivax can relapse months or years after initial infection.

Is there a malaria vaccine?

Yes, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines have been recommended by WHO for children in areas with moderate to high transmission. These vaccines reduce severe malaria and deaths by about 30-75% when combined with other prevention measures. However, they are not 100% protective, so other prevention methods remain essential.

Can malaria be cured?

Yes, malaria is curable if diagnosed early and treated with appropriate antimalarial medications. Treatment depends on the parasite species, severity, and drug resistance patterns. However, delayed diagnosis and drug-resistant parasites can make treatment difficult. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the most effective first-line treatments.

Where is malaria a risk?

Malaria is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions across Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East and Pacific. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest burden. Check the live outbreak data above and consult CDC travel recommendations before traveling to endemic areas.

South Dakota

Malaria in South Dakota

Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. It remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Qu'est-ce que Malaria?

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths globally. Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria continues to devastate communities, particularly affecting children under 5 and pregnant women in Africa.

Symptômes

High fever and chills (often in cycles)
Severe sweating
Headache and body aches
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue and weakness
Anemia (severe cases)
Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Confusion or seizures (cerebral malaria)

Transmission

Malaria is transmitted primarily through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. These mosquitoes typically bite between dusk and dawn. Transmission can also occur through blood transfusions, organ transplants, shared needles, or from mother to unborn child.

Période de Contagiosité : Not directly contagious person-to-person; infectious to mosquitoes when parasites are present in blood (varies by species and treatment)

Prévention

Take antimalarial medications when traveling to endemic areas (chemoprophylaxis)
Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin
Wear long-sleeved clothing, especially after sunset
Use indoor residual spraying with insecticides
Eliminate standing water breeding sites
Consider malaria vaccine in high-risk areas (children)
Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms

South Dakota Ressources Santé

Informations du département de santé local et directives de prévention spécifiques à l'état

Nous Surveillons South Dakota

Notre surveillance alimentée par IA surveille en continu l'activité de Malaria dans tout South Dakota. Nous suivons les données des services de santé des états, des hôpitaux locaux, des rapports du CDC et de plus de 50 sources de santé mondiales pour fournir une alerte précoce sur les menaces émergentes.

Recevez des notifications instantanées lorsque l'activité de Malaria augmente dans South Dakota ou dans votre comté spécifique.

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South Dakota Département de Santé

Pour les alertes officielles de santé de l'état, les lieux de vaccination et les directives de santé publique spécifiques à South Dakota, visitez le site web du département de santé de votre état.

→ South Dakota Département de Santé → CDC Malaria Information → CDC Health Topics

Understanding Malaria: Key Questions

Que vous viviez dans South Dakota or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.

Quand Consulter un Médecin

Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.

Symptômes d'urgence : Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.

Ressources Expertes et Références

Informations fiables provenant des principales organisations de santé

CDC

Directives officielles des Centers for Disease Control and Prevention des États-Unis

Voir les Ressources du CDC →

WHO

Surveillance mondiale des maladies et directives de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé

Voir les Ressources de l'OMS →

Recherche

Dernières recherches évaluées par les pairs et études cliniques

Voir la Recherche →

Contenu Révisé Médicalement

Les informations sur les maladies sur Virus Watcher sont révisées par notre Épidémiologiste en Chef, ancien analyste principal du CDC pour les prévisions FluSight. Les données épidémiques sont agrégées à partir de sources vérifiées notamment BEACON, ProMED, OMS, CDC et plus de 50 agences nationales de santé. Ces informations sont à des fins éducatives et ne doivent pas remplacer les conseils médicaux professionnels.

Dernière révision : 2026-08-13

Recent Malaria Reports

No confirmed cases reported in South Dakota yet. Here are the latest Malaria reports from our global surveillance network.

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