Development and Health - Malaria

Question 1

Talk about the causes of malaria.

Answer 1

malaria is caused by the female anopheles mosquito (1)
in areas with suitable vegetation, enough water for them to breed in, and suitable temperatures (between 16 and 40 degrees Celsius). (1)
It is found below 3000 m, (1)
and children under 5 are most susceptible as they have never been exported to it before - no immunity (1).
Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted by the mosquito, which is its host. (1)
now talk biology - the mosquito is a vector (its responsible for transmitting a parasite, which malaria is - plasmodia) etc etc.

Question 2

Talk about the impacts of malaria.

Answer 2

Over 1 million people are killed each year by malaria (1),
and it may affect tourism as tourists don’t want to visit areas where malaria is common. (1)
Treatment for malaria is expensive for families, as they must pay for doctors and medicine, and so they have less money to spend on education and general healthcare. (1 or 2)
People with malaria are unable to work, and so the government collects less taxes (1),
additionally, treating malaria is expensive, and so the country has less money to spend on developing.(1)
If the main earner in a family is infected, then the rest of the family is put under pressure.(1)

Question 3

Describe how malaria is managed, and the effectiveness of the strategies.

Answer 3

Eliminating breeding areas - eg a tin can, with fresh, stagnant water - effective at preventing breeding, however it’s very time consuming and difficult to cover all sources, e.g. in a Shanty Town.
Introducing larvae eating fish (eg the Muddy Roach) into padi fields - effective as they eat mosquito larvae, reducing the number of mosquitoes, and also provide another food source for the locals, however they are non native and so may affect the food web in the ecosystem.
Pesticides such as DDT or Malathion can be used in walls eg in Ethiopia. However they are expensive and may have unwanted effects on local species.
Bed nets are cheap, easy to use and accessible, and greatly reduce the chances of being bitten by a mosquito at night, which is when they’re most active.
Locals can be educated to not go to collect water at dawn or dusk, as that’s when the mosquitoes are most active, and covering skin.
Removing vegetation that the mosquito uses to digest it’s blood meal - effective but requires constant attention as vegetation grows quickly.