| Risk Factors Malaria is a disease passed through the blood. It
is typically passed to humans through the bite of an infected
mosquito but can also be passed from mother to unborn child or
during a blood transfusion from an infected donor. Malaria is
caused by a specific type of parasite. Most often, a mosquito
picks up the parasite when it bites someone with malaria. The
mosquito can pass the parasite to a new person when it bites
them. The parasite then travels to and multiplies in the liver.
After several days, the new parasites leave the liver and pass
into the bloodstream. The parasite infect the red blood cells
and within 48 hours the infected red blood cells burst. The
parasites then go on to infect more red blood cells. Copyright ©
Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. Living in or traveling to hot, humid
climates where mosquitoes are common is the most common risk
factor for malaria. Africa, Asia, and Latin America all have
areas where malaria is common. The majority of fatal cases are
found in tourists visit