World Malaria Day is April 25

Every year on April 25, the World Health Organization hosts World Malaria Day to shine a light on the progress that has been made in combating this deadly disease, as well as the work that still needs to be done.

You may have heard that mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal on earth, and if we measure in terms of lost life, this is certainly true. Malaria, a mosquito-borne illness, kills more people every year than all wars combined. It has been found all over the world and was endemic to the United States as recently as the 1950s. It kills close to 750,000 people worldwide every year, and incapacitates another 200 million. Many of malaria's victims are children, in fact a child dies from malaria somewhere in the world every minute. Malaria also causes billions of dollars of economic losses and millions of missed school days.

Malaria is carried by Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the Plasmodium parasite and transfer it directly from person to person. Once an infected mosquito bites a person, the parasite travels through the bloodstream to the liver where it reproduces. It is then released to the bloodstream, where it continues to reproduce. At this stage, the victim will start to show symptoms, and a new mosquito bite can transfer the disease to others.

Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, body aches and general malaise. Severe malaria can lead to cerebral malaria, cardiovascular collapse, kidney failure and more, sometimes leading to chronic illness or death.

The fight against malaria worldwide is a multipronged approach. It involves providing effective malarial treatments, preventative treatment, use of pesticide treated mosquito nets, mosquito abatement, and continued research.

Mosquito Squad supports an organization called Malaria No More, and by supporting this terrific organization, you can help fight this terrible disease. One dollar can buy an effective mosquito treatment for a child, which will cure the disease in just a few days. Ten dollars is enough to buy a pesticide-infused bed net. Malaria No More also provides mosquito nets, fast diagnosis kits, malarial treatment and education. Every Mosquito Squad franchise, nationwide, donates to this cause.

To join us, please visit Malaria No More.