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General information on malariaMalaria is a preventable infection that has the capability of affecting anybody at any age. The infected female anopheles mosquito transmits malaria, when it settles on a person to take a blood meal. Malaria can be contracted when visiting a malaria-risk area or through "airport malaria" - which is not very common. Airport malaria is contracted through the coincidental introduction of the anopheles mosquito in an airport, luggage or any type of closed vehicle / container. It was originally thought that malaria originated in marshes and swamps and was transmitted through the air, hence the name "mal" "aria" - meaning "bad air", but the real cause was discovered in 1880, when scientists discovered that malaria is caused by a single cell parasite called plasmodium. The mosquito transfers this parasite to a human through its bite, as blood is required by the mosquito to nurture its eggs. Affected areas
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