Physical and human factors
The table below shows a summary of physical and human causes of malaria.
| Physical | Human |
| Temperatures must be between 15-40掳C | Houses create areas of shade for the mosquitoes to rest |
| The presence of the female anopheles mosquito | Global air travel contributes to the spread |
| Humidity of 60 per cent plus | Settlements provide large populations for blood meals |
| Stagnant water, eg paddy fields needed to lay larvae | Poor sanitation in shanty towns can contribute to areas of stagnant water |
| Physical | Temperatures must be between 15-40掳C |
|---|---|
| Human | Houses create areas of shade for the mosquitoes to rest |
| Physical | The presence of the female anopheles mosquito |
|---|---|
| Human | Global air travel contributes to the spread |
| Physical | Humidity of 60 per cent plus |
|---|---|
| Human | Settlements provide large populations for blood meals |
| Physical | Stagnant water, eg paddy fields needed to lay larvae |
|---|---|
| Human | Poor sanitation in shanty towns can contribute to areas of stagnant water |
Malaria is spread by the female anopheles mosquito. When an infected mosquito bites a person, the malaria parasite is passed into the human bloodstream, infecting them.
Mosquitoes in turn can pick up the parasite from an infected human and then pass it on when they bite someone else.
Consequences of the presence of malaria
Malaria leads to large numbers of children under five dying. Adults with malaria are too weak to work which leads to a loss of productivity. They may not be able to produce enough food for their family. Therefore they remain poor.
As a result they may not have enough to eat, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to disease. A country's limited resources are used up in health care rather than in education or improving services. This hinders development.
Tourists may be less likely to visit a country with malaria so there is less revenue for the country.