Malaria Transmission: How Mosquitoes Spread the Disease

Malaria is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

When an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a human, she injects saliva containing sporozoites into the bloodstream. These sporozoites travel to the liver, where they mature into schizonts. The schizonts then rupture, releasing merozoites into the bloodstream. The merozoites infect red blood cells, where they multiply and rupture, releasing more merozoites. This cycle of infection can continue for several weeks, causing the symptoms of malaria.

Malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and sharing of needles or other sharp objects.

However, these forms of transmission are much less common than transmission through mosquito bites.

Malaria is not spread through casual contact, such as touching or breathing the same air as an infected person.