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Malaria
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite of the Plasmodium genus, and it is transmitted through the female Anopheles mosquito. The main species that cause malaria in human beings are P. falciparum and P. vivax. Malaria is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, especially in Africa, where over 500,000 people die every year.
In Ecuador, the incidence rate of malaria has decreased significantly over the past years (over 99% decrease since 2001). Nowadays, the country is in the pre-elimination phase. However, outbreaks still occur on both sides of the Andes. Therefore, the development of research that contributes to malaria eradication policies is vital.
