Malaria is caused by a single celled parasite Plasmodium. It is transmitted from person to person by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. The Plasmodium parasites are highly specific, with humans as the only vertebrate host and Anopheles mosquitoes as the only vectors that carry the parasite. Though the Plasmodium are single celled, they still have complex life cycles that involve being in both the Anopheles mosquito and humans.

The mosquitoes that carry malaria are present in almost all countries in the tropics and subtropics. Malaria kills more people than any other communicable disease worldwide except for tuberculosis. Symptoms of malaria include fever, shivering, pain in the joints, headache, repeated vomiting, generalized convulsions and coma. If left untreated the disease can lead to death. Malaria can be prevented by the use of antimalarial drugs and use of personal protection against mosquito bites. It is important that Malaria is treated in its early stages, otherwise there could be serious health consequences.