> Which disease gets its name from an Italian phrase that translates to "bad air?"And the answer: malaria. Photo credit: Alvesgaspar, via Wikimedia CommonsTransmitted through mosquitobites, malaria is one of the most ubiquitous diseases known, with more than 125different species of malaria that infect mammals, birds and reptiles. It getsits name from the Italian words mala and aria, which translate to "bad air."Malaria is an ancient disease. Though it was first reported around the time ofthe ancient Egyptians in 1550 B.C., malaria likely existed throughout all ofhuman’s evolutionary history. In both Egyptian records as well as in ancientGreek reports, symptoms of fevers are linked to swamp air – the breeding groundfor this vicious disease. Malaria is most easily transmitted between individuals in locations wheremosquito lifespan is longer, and where mosquitoes have greater ability to preyon humans rather than animals. A longer lifespan provides the parasite more timeto complete its development inside the mosquito, increasing the likelihood oftransmission. The long lifespan and strong human-biting habit of the Africanvector species is the main reason why approximately 90% of the world's malariacases are in Africa.While it is widespread and has had devastating effects on African, South-EastAsian, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific communities, there are formsof prevention and cure. Antimalarial drugs can prevent the blood stage ofmalarial infections, therefore preventing the disease altogether. There are alsoforms of vector control that have been effective in preventing the infection andspread of malaria, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoorspraying. To learn more about malaria check out the video below.