Case study in a developing country- malaria
Location
Malaria is usually found between the Tropic of CancerAn important line of latitude located at 23.5掳 north of the Equator. in the north and the Tropic of CapricornAn important line of latitude located at 23.5掳 south of the Equator. in the south.
There are a number of human factorsA man-made thing or an aspect to do with humans, eg poor sanitation. and physical factorsNatural factors such as the type of land, the climate and the presence of water. which contribute to the worldwide distribution of malaria.
Causes of malaria
Physical:
- Temperatures must be between 15 and 40掳C with high rainfall 鈥 this makes the tropics ideal.
- The presence of the female anopheles mosquitoThe type of mosquitoes that spread malaria..
- humidityThe amount of water vapour in the atmosphere measured as a percentage. of 60 per cent and over.
- stagnant waterWater that is still and does not move., eg a lake or even a puddle, needed to lay larvaeThe newly hatched, wingless and wormlike form of a mosquito before metamorphosis into an insect..
- Areas of vegetationTrees and plants. for shade to digest blood.
Human:
- Houses create areas of shade for the mosquitoesA small flying insect. to rest.
- Global air travel contributes to the spread 鈥 'airport malariaWhen malaria is brought into a country on aircraft.'.
- Settlements provide large populations for blood meals.
- Poor sanitationMeasures to help cleanliness and hygiene. in shanty towns.
- Man-made areas of stagnant water, eg paddy fieldsFields where rice is grown..
Malaria is spread as the female anopheles mosquito bites a person and passes the parasiteAn organism that lives in another organism such as humans. into their bloodstream, infecting them with malaria. Mosquitoes can also pick up the parasite from an infected human and then pass it on when they bite someone else.