Malaria
was first identified by the Ancient Romans. The
name derived from the bad-smelling air that hung like a miasma over
the city in the summer months and the disease was thought to be spread
by breathing. The
main symptom of the disease is a high fever. The disease destroys
red blood cells and before the 20th century often resulted in death.
The
disease is caused by a parasite that is transferred to humans by a
mosquito bite. Malaria is therefore a problem for people living close
to marshes. The disease can be removed from an area by draining the
land. The cause of malaria was discovered in 1880 and this has enabled
successful drugs to be developed against the disease. However,
someone still dies of malaria every 15 seconds and it is estimated
that 500 people are infected every year.
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