Malaria in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park is the oldest park on the African continent, located just a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali International Airport on a 160 sq km piece of land.
It is home to various animal and plant species, such as golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, different bird species, and other vegetation types.
It also provides a home to the beautiful five Virunga mountains: Gahinga, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura.
Despite its promising vegetation, Volcanoes National Park lies at a higher altitude, which makes the risk of contracting malaria very low, unlike in areas at lower altitudes.
Malaria’s key vector is an infected female Anopheles mosquito which, unlike other mosquitoes, has adaptations on its mouth to suck and feed on human blood, which is also used for fertilizing its eggs.
A mosquito undergoes four stages of its life cycle and has an average lifespan of about 2 weeks.
Malaria is mainly spread by an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
When an infected mosquito sucks blood from an infected person, it can transfer the infected blood to another healthy person.
This makes the malaria protozoan parasite Plasmodium cause the actual malaria in the body of the person who received the infected blood.
Anyone can contract malaria regardless of age if they come into contact with blood transferred by an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Other minor methods through which malaria can be spread include blood transfusion from an infected person to another person.
Signs and Symptoms of Malaria
- High fever
- Shaking chills
- Headaches and muscle aches
- General body pains
- Chest pain, breathing problems, and cough
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
When Do Signs and Symptoms of Malaria Show Up?
These usually show up 10-30 days after one has been infected, depending on the parasite. However, it should be noted that some people may harbor the parasite for close to a year without showing any symptoms.
Causes of Malaria
As mentioned earlier, malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite called Plasmodium, which has five closely related types, namely:
- Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum)
- Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae)
- Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax)
- Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale)
- Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi)
Precautions
If not treated in time, malaria can cause severe health complications such as:
- Seizures
- Brain damage
- Trouble breathing
- Organ failure
- Death
- Anemia and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Treatment of Malaria
Malaria can be treated using antimalarial drugs such as:
- Artemisinin drugs (artemether and artesunate)
- Atovaquone (Mepron)
- Chloroquine
- Doxycycline
- Mefloquine
- Quinine
- Primaquine
All these medicines should be taken or administered under professional instructions.
Side Effects of Antimalarial Drugs
- Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea
- Headaches
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight
- Insomnia
- Psychological disorders and vision problems
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Seizures
- Anemia
Prevention of Malaria
- Taking antimalarial medication before, during, and after a visit to a tropical area
- Using mosquito repellent containing DEET
- Covering up bare skin in the evening
- Sleeping under treated mosquito nets
- Regular check-ups to eliminate overwhelming side effects
In conclusion, malaria is a tropical disease that is highly spread during the wet season due to favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes, and it is therefore a serious threat to human life and health in general.
