Inappropriate fears about malaria
Dr Ethelwald Emilius Vella'S brief letter (The Sunday Times, August 1) informed and held back information in equal measure. The resulting note could allow a possible interpretation that people in Malta are at risk of contracting malaria from asylum...
Dr Ethelwald Emilius Vella'S brief letter (The Sunday Times, August 1) informed and held back information in equal measure. The resulting note could allow a possible interpretation that people in Malta are at risk of contracting malaria from asylum seekers landing on our shores.
The World Health Organisation estimates that yearly 300-500 million cases of malaria occur and more than one million people die of malaria worldwide. Large areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America are considered malaria-risk areas.
About seven cases of malaria have been reported in Malta yearly between 2000-2002. These included immigrants and local travellers returning from malaria-risk areas, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Humans living in endemic areas for malaria are the natural reservoir of the malaria parasite. Certain species of the anopheline mosquitoes transmit the parasite to other humans. However, malaria-carrying mosquito species are not known to exist in Malta. Therefore, transmission of infection to the general public is highly improbable.
It is unfair to insinuate that asylum seekers may possibly introduce malaria into Malta when there is no valid reason to do so. Such xenophobic attitudes are harmful as they may instigate unnecessary fear and paranoia.