The first term represents production of new RBCs by the host. Erythropoiesis is assumed to be a logistic function of current RBC density, where λ is the maximum realized rate of replenishing depleted RBCs and K determines the homeostatic equilibrium density. We assume that only uninfected RBCs count towards the homeostatic equilibrium because malaria parasites consume large amounts of haemoglobin during their development (e.g., Lew, 2003) and compromise the ability of infected RBCs to carry oxygen (Schmidt, Correa, Boning, Ehrich, & Kruger, 1994). We have found that including infected RBCs in this term makes little qualitative difference. In the absence of infection, RBC production balances natural death (which occurs at a rate, μ), so K=λR∗λ−μR∗, where R* represents the RBC density at homeostatic equilibrium. The final term represents a mass action infection process, and p is the rate at which merozoites invade RBCs upon contact.