Vector of malaria

The mosquito has been described as the most dangerous animal in the world and the mosquito-borne disease with the greatest detrimental impact is undoubtedly malaria. There are about 3,500 mosquito species and those that transmit malaria all belong to a sub-set called the Anopheles. Approximately 40 Anopheles species are able to transmit malaria well enough to cause significant human illness and death.

The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, called malaria vectors, which bite mainly between dusk and dawn. There are four parasite species that cause malaria in humans: Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium vivax.