Monkey is the reason why people go to the forest to get malaria

According to Lancet Global Health, a malaria parasite that has spread from monkeys to humans in Brazil has been identified by researchers, causing concern for the elimination of the disease in the country. This finding explains the malaria cases in southern Brazil that have taken place over the past decade, but caused concern about further measures to prevent disease.

It is believed that in southern and southeastern Brazil, malaria was defeated about half a century ago. However, since 2006, there have been more than 1,000 new cases of malaria detected in this area, including two outbreaks in 2015 and 2016.

Malaria parasites have spread from monkeys to humans.

Initially, it was thought that this disease was caused by Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite and from outside. In fact, most cases are travelers from other places. However, a recent study of the DNA of malaria parasites isolated from the patient's blood led to an unexpected finding. Accordingly, a number of cases are caused by Plasmodium simium , which often infects monkeys. It is recorded in the Central American macaque monkeys (Aloautta) , including brown otters (Alouatta Guariba), which live on a large scale in the south of Brazil as well as in relation to spider monkey (arachnoides Brachyteles).

Monkey germs were found in 33 out of 49 samples in the years 2015-2016, mainly middle-aged people living in the city going into the forest during tourism and picnic activities. Scientists believe that is the source of many cases in previous years. Previously, cases of malaria transmission from monkeys to humans were known but only appeared in Southeast Asia.

Furthermore, the authors of the study believe that this type of malaria agent is often unable to pass through mosquito bites from humans to humans.The source of infection is always a monkey. This explains why there are no cases of infection in the largest city in the region, Rio de Janeiro, as well as in areas without forest cover. However, the existence of a permanent pathogen in monkey populations lives in Brazilian forests, significantly complicating the nation's fight against malaria.

Scientists warn that although there is no evidence that malaria can spread from human to human via mosquitoes, tourists need to take measures to avoid mosquito bites and medicine to control fever. cold to not spread throughout the continent and the world.