Warning of the existence of blood-borne malaria parasites in African countries

About 25% of the blood stored in many countries in the southern Sahara desert contains malaria-causing parasites.

This is the result of 26 research projects conducted by British scientists on blood donors in this area during the period 2000 - 2017.

Reporters in Africa quoted Dr. Philippe Guerin, director of the International Malaria Prevention Network and also the research leader, saying the proportion of blood donors containing malaria parasites in the blood ranged from 0% to 74% in 9 African countries.

According to Guerin, 90% of malaria cases are concentrated in Africa. This result is alarming because the malaria parasite will spread at a very dangerous speed through the way of giving and receiving blood. In developed countries, blood test is done systematically and methodically to remove pathogenic blood before transmitting to the recipient. However, this work is not strictly implemented in poor and underdeveloped countries.

Patients with malaria treated at a hospital in Monrovi, Liberia.(Photo: EPA / VNA).

In addition, because most blood donors are adults, although the blood contains malaria parasites, their immune systems are capable of temporarily controlling the disease, so most of them do not signs of illness. Meanwhile, the majority of people receiving blood are pregnant women and children are those with weaker immunity.

According to Dr. Philippe Guerin, who is also a professor at Oxford University (UK), African countries need to equip emergency equipment necessary to check and remove blood samples infected with fever parasites cold in particular and other infectious diseases in general before being transmitted to patients.

Currently, the group of Dr. Philippe Guerin is planning to carry out similar research projects in Latin America and Southeast Asia, which also has the potential to spread the malaria parasite through blood transfusion.

Meanwhile, before the Conference on Malaria, which took place in London (England) on April 18, a group of business leaders headed by billionaire Bill Gate (Bin Geng) and the word houses Good and schools in malaria-affected countries have called on donors to contribute $ 3.8 billion for research and innovation initiatives to improve disease prevention and treatment measures. Malaria, which causes 500,000 people worldwide to die each year, is mainly young children. According to Mr. Bill Gate's commitment, the Bill & Melinda Gates charity will spend an additional $ 1 billion from now until the end of 2023 for malaria prevention studies.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites with an infectious disease is female Anopheles mosquito. Typical symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, vomiting . If not treated promptly, it can lead to death from invasive parasites, breaking red blood cells that clog blood vessels.