Summary of Study Session 5

In Study Session 5, you have learned that:

  1. Malaria is a major public health problem in the world, Africa and Ethiopia, affecting millions of people each year.
  2. The malaria parasite is transmitted from person to person by the bite of female mosquitoes.
  3. The parasite is taken by the mosquito when feeding on an infected person.
  4. The parasite develops and multiplies in the mosquito body and the cycle takes about 10 days, depending on the temperature.
  5. The parasites are injected into humans when the mosquito bites.
  6. Studying the life cycle of the malaria parasite that causes human malaria makes understanding the pathology, signs, symptoms and treatment of the disease easier.
  7. Water collections are important for vector breeding.
  8. Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes only; the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes can be easily distinguished from other non-vector mosquitoes.
  9. A female Anopheles mosquito needs to feed on blood to develop its eggs and reproduce.
  10. The life cycle of the malaria vector from egg to adult takes 8 to 12 days, depending on temperature.
  11. The vectors bite people from dusk to dawn.
  12. The vectors can bite people indoors or outdoors.
  13. The vectors feeding indoors are likely to spend some time resting inside houses after taking a blood meal.
  14. Understanding the behaviour of the vector is important to plan preventive measures.

5.7 Behaviour of mosquitoes that transmit malaria

Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 5