Malaria is one of several insect-borne diseases that can be carried by mosquitos. The parasite is spread to humans when the mosquito bites and can cause a range of symptoms from fever and chills or flu-like symptoms to more serious illness that can end in death. There are four strains of malaria, with one being the most likely to cause serious illness or death. Since many countries with malaria are already among the poorer nations, the disease maintains a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. ¹

There is currently no vaccine against malaria, although there are some that are in trials and being developed. While treatment is available, it’s not cheap and those countries that suffer the most with the disease can struggle to access it. Without proper treatment, malaria episodes (fever, sweating, and chills) can periodically happen over a period of years.  

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a drastic increase in the number of cases of Malaria and other insect borne diseases around the world. In 2020, the WHO (World Health Organization) tracked an increase of 12% in deaths from Malaria around the world.  

‘Approximately 2/3 of the additional 627,000 deaths due to malaria, in comparison to 2019, were linked to disruptions in the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.’²

Sub-Saharan Africa carries the heaviest malaria burden, accounting for about 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of all deaths in 2020. 80% of those deaths are in children under 5 years old.³  

Mosquitos breed and lay their eggs in or near standing water, and mainly feed in the evenings and overnight, but can be active throughout the day. They tend to be less active in higher altitudes, and in built up cities where there are less pools of water – but that’s not always the case. Traditional means of protection are in use, and are widely supported, including mosquito bed nets and indoor residual spraying.

Bed nets are treated with an insecticide to kill any mosquitos that encounter it, while protecting the area where you are sleeping by being an active barrier for access. Limitations include that it only protects you if you are inside the net, which means if you work in the evening or night, it’s not as effective as if you sleep at home, at night. The nets do need to be re-treated regularly, and access to that isn’t always easy.⁴  

Indoor Residual Spraying is where the inside of the house is sprayed with a long-lasting insecticide which repels mosquitos and other insects from the house. It works best when whole communities have this done, but the organization of getting the spray to the area, completing the spraying and refreshing on a regular basis are difficult – especially in rural areas. While doing the spray, all household belongings apart from large furniture need to be removed, and there can be respiratory reactions to the spray. Of course, the IRS only protects when in the house, meaning you still are vulnerable to insect bites outside of the house.  

Both preventative techniques do not provide protection when outside of the house, leaving people unprotected when they are working or doing things outside.  

This is where repellents could be a major source of protection – if the insects don’t bite, you don’t risk getting ill. The problem with most repellents is that they are DEET based, a chemical that smells, is harsh on the skin, and they tend to only last a few hours at a time.

Using the StayTec™ technology, LivFul produces an innovative DEET free repellent cream that doesn’t smell, is good on the skin and safe for everyone from 2 months old! What is more, it allows an incredible 14h of protection time after only one application. That daily application can help to protect where traditional methods can’t, outside of the house, allowing everyone to Live Free, Live Well, and Live to their Full potential.  

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Sources:  

¹https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html#:~:text=Malaria%20is%20a%20serious%20and,humans%3A%20Plasmodium%20falciparum%2C%20P.  

² www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2021    

³ www.who.int/news/item/06-12-2021-more-malaria-cases-and-deaths-in-2020-linked-to-covid-19-disruptions  

⁴  https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-10-83

⁵ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5683179_Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane_DDT_for_Indoor_Residual_Spraying_in_Africa_How_Can_It_Be_Used_for_Malaria_Control​   

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