Top 10 Deadly Diseases: 9. Malaria Everyone despises being eaten alive by pesky mosquitoes in the summer, but you would be surprised how many of those annoying bugs could actually lead to our demise! Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from one human to another through the bite of an infected mosquito. In humans, the parasites travel to the liver, where they mature. Once matured, they release another parasite that then enters the bloodstream and infects the red blood cells. The parasites multiply at a rapid speed, but symptoms could take up to one year to show. The disease is a major health problem in much of the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die from the disease. It presents a major health hazard for travelers to warm climates — something definitely to be weary of when planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip to the rain forest.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 09:48:22 +0000