The History of Malaria in Ghana
It is believed that human malaria began in Central and West Africa. According to the article, "Evolutionary and Historical Aspects of the Burden of Malaria,"
one of the four types of human malaria, P. malariae," is found in apparently indistinguishable form as a natural parasite of chimpanzees in West Africa."
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Origin
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The beginning of agricultural practices in central and western Africa, 8,000 years ago, brought about the human malaria parasite to this warm, temperate climate. These agricultural practices were one of the main components in the evolution of human malaria.
Types
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The two types that have become most concerning are P. vivax and P. falciparum which are most prevalent in warm, tropical regions.
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Colonization
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In the 19th century, during expansion of the world, malaria had spread especially to those who lived or visited Western Africa.
Malaria Control
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The use of DDT was introduced to western Africa in the 1950s. This was the World Health Organization's solution to malaria control; although it worked on other continents, the introduction of DDT to Africa didn't work.
Medicine
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Even with this failure, Africa was introduced to new anti-malarial drugs which resulted in fewer malaria related deaths through the 1980s.
Malaria Today
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Today, Africa "carries by far the greatest burden of malaria today." The situation of malaria is relatively unchanged especially in tropical areas of the continent.
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References
- 1. Evolutionary and Historical Aspects of the Burden of Malaria-Origins of Human Malaria Parasites
- 2. Evolutionary and Historical Aspects of the Burden of Malaria-The Agrarian Revolution in Africa
- 3. Evolutionary and Historical Aspects of the Burden of Malaria-From the "Dawn of History" to the Nineteenth Century
