Malaria is a common infection in hot, tropical areas but can
also occur (very rarely) in temperate climates. A serious
illness, malaria can cause mild illness in some and life-
threatening illness in others. Malaria can be cured if treated.
It is caused by parasites of the Plasmodium species, which are
carried by mosquitoes infected from biting someone who already
has the disease. Malaria is then transmitted to other people
when infected mosquitoes bite them. Rarely, it is passed from
person to person (from mother to child in "congenital malaria,"
or through blood transfusion, organ donation, or shared
needles). Worldwide, 300-500 million people are infected with
malaria each year. Most cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with
approximately 2 million people dying there each year. Asia,
Latin America, and parts of Europe are also affected by malaria.
Malaria is rare in the United States, with only about 1,300
cases reported each year over the last 10 years. Most of these
cases occurred in travelers, military per