The disease that we now call malaria has been around ever since there were mosquitoes. For the past 4000 years, people have referred to this disease in medical writings of one type or the other. Its name comes from the Italian term malaria, or bad air, so called because people noted that cases of the disease often clustered around swamps that they felt were full of bad air.

In modern times, malaria continues to affect millions of people each year, especially in underdeveloped countries in the southern hemisphere.

Some scientists say that climate change is playing a major role in this situation. The number of places where conditions provide optimal habitats for mosquitoes has grown significantly. As a result, people who have not been exposed to the mosquitoes and the malaria they bring along with them (and have not developed a natural immunity to malaria) are now at risk for contracting the disease.

In this interactive we often refer to “animals and insects” despite the fact that insects are animals. This is to differentiate animal (usually mammal) hosts from insect vectors.

Malaria - Past and Present

The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease

After working with this presentation, students will be able to discuss the course of malaria and identify factors that lead to its increased range and the increased range of other vector borne diseases.

• Recognize and describe that gradual (climatic) and sudden (floods and fires) changes in environmental conditions affect the survival of organisms and populations. (MD 3.0 D.1.a (Grade 8)
• Explain that populations increase or decrease relative to the availability of resources and the conditions of the environment. (MD 3.0 F.1.a (Grade 6))
• Identify and describe a range of local issues that have an impact on people in other places. (MD 6.0-B. 1a (Grade 6,7,8))
• Evolution, including the origination and extinction of species, is a natural and ongoing process. (NSF 6.2)
• Evidence indicates that changes in many physical and biological systems are linked to human caused warming. (NOAA 6f)
• The atmosphere covers the entire surface of Earth; thus, activities that e. effect climate (e.g., energy use leading to greenhouse gas release into the atmosphere) in one region affect human beings and other species worldwide. (NOAA 7e)
• AAAS-Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Natural Hazards

History of disease; diseases and their transmission; malaria; insects; mosquitoes; general biology

• Friend or Foe? After students view this presentation, involve them in this activity: The history of the use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) shows how difficult it is to find a way of treating environmental problems without causing great harm. Trace the history of this pesticide and compare it to use of a current substance in our environment (such as antibiotics that are fed cattle and poultry), examining short-term and long-term benefits/costs. (The EPA gives a great summary of the history of DDT. A more personal perspective is available here.)
• Climate Change and Disease After students view this presentation, involve them in this activity: In the blog Blood Fever, a fictional student talks about a very real situation: the expanding number of malaria outbreaks in the highland regions of Kenya and other African nations, brought on (according to some scientists) by climate change and the ways it has aided in the expansion of mosquito habitats. This article presents a current perspective on the situation. Compare this development with situations in other areas of the world where changes in animal habitats have lead to dangerous conditions for people. This article may spark some ideas.
• On Their Own After exploring this subject through print and web research, students could create their own PowerPoint on the past, present, and future of malaria using the slides included here, arranging them in the order they feel best tells the story.