Context:
April 25 is observed globally as World Malaria Day, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006. The day highlights the need for continued investment and innovation in fighting malaria, a disease that still infects 263 million people annually, killing over 600,000, with Africa bearing 95% of the global malaria mortality.
From Miasma Theory to Scientific Discovery
- Malaria, originally thought to be caused by “bad air” (Italian: mala aria), was scientifically traced to the Plasmodium parasite in 1880 by Alphonse Laveran.
- Key milestones:
- 1885–1892: Italian scientists Golgi, Celli, and Marchiafava identified parasite cycles and species.
- 1894–1898: British doctor Ronald Ross and Italian researcher Giovanni Grassi confirmed transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes, completing the transmission cycle.
Impact on Colonialism and Global Politics
- Prior to this discovery, malaria severely limited European colonisation in Africa, with mortality rates reaching up to 60% among inland troops.
- Following the scientific breakthroughs:
- Colonisers adopted vector control strategies like swamp drainage and European-only settlements.
- These allowed safer inland expansion during the Scramble for Africa post the 1884 Berlin Conference.
- By 1914, European powers controlled nearly 90% of Africa.
Racial Hierarchies and Economic Exploitation
- Africans with genetic resistance to malaria were favoured in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, reinforcing a racialised labour economy.
- Malaria indirectly supported pseudo-scientific racism, shaping enduring social hierarchies and discriminatory systems still present in modern societies.
Scientific Advances in Treatment and Prevention
- Key tools in malaria control:
- Quinine, chloroquine, and now artemisinin-based therapies.
- Insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and the new RTS,S malaria vaccine.
- Malaria is now a major factor in environmental and climate planning, as factors like deforestation and stagnant water influence mosquito breeding.
Current Status and Challenges
- Despite progress, malaria remains a public health emergency, especially in Africa.
- WHO’s 2024 World Malaria Report confirms a significant reduction in death rates, but the burden remains disproportionately high in low-income regions.
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