Daily News Analysis ‘WHO Declared Georgia as the 45th country to Eliminate Malaria ‘: 14 February

Key Details related to Malaria

What is Malaria?

• A life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites.
• Spread through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
•  Found mostly in tropical regions.

Transmission

• It is not contagious; and does not spread from person to person.
• Spread through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Five Plasmodium species infect humans:  Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae

Plasmodium knowlesi.

• P. falciparum and P. vivax are the most dangerous.

Symptoms

• Appear 10–15 days after an infected mosquito bite.
• Common symptoms: fever, headache, chills.
• Some infected people may show no symptoms in endemic areas due to partial immunity.

Malaria Vaccines

• RTS, S Vaccine (First WHO-Approved Malaria Vaccine), R21/Matrix-M Vaccine and PfSPZ Vaccine.

Tunisia 

• Location: Northernmost country in Africa, bordered by Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea.
• Capital & Largest City: Tunis, located on the northeastern coast of the African Continent.
• Foreign Relations: Close ties with France, Italy, and the EU; a major non-NATO ally of the U.S.
• Geography:
  • Diverse landscapes from mountains to desert.
  • 1,148 km Mediterranean coastline.
  • Maritime claims: 12 nautical miles (territorial sea), 24 nautical miles (contiguous zone).
• Climate: Mediterranean in the north, semi-arid in the center, desert in the south.
• Environmental Challenges: Water pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, desertification.
• Political System: Semi-presidential democratic republic, underwent major changes post-2011 revolution.

Why in News?

• Tunisia, a key transit hub for sub-Saharan migrants to Europe, has faced rising tensions, with racial attacks against migrants increasing.
  •  Many Tunisians argue that their struggling economy cannot support the migrants.