Essay --

The Connection Between Malaria and Deforestation Deforestation is the clearing of forests where the land is then converted for other uses. Deforestation happens globally on a massive scale as humans expand and cultivate the land. Examples of deforestation include the clearing of forests for cattle farming, mining and of course logging operations as well as a multitude of other uses. In the Amazon deforestation has been a problem for hundreds of years, ever since the Europeans ventured to the new world the Amazon has suffered from human settlement and the development of land. Because of these changes to the rainforest the ecosystem has been changed indefinitely. Malaria is an infectious disease born from mosquitoes that is caused by parasitic protozoa that reside inside the mosquito. In most cases the disease is transmitted through getting bitten by an infected female anopheles mosquito. the protozoa is transferred to the victim from the mosquitoes saliva into their circulatory system. Malaria symptoms usually include headaches as well as fever. In dire cases this can progress into a coma or can be fatal (CDC 2014). Malaria is typically found in warmer regions of the world mostly tropical and sub tropical countries. The reason for this is the Anopheles mosquito thrives in higher temperatures. Malaria parasites grow and develop inside the mosquito and needs warmth to complete its growth before they are mature enough to be transmitted to humans.. Some examples of areas that malaria is present include South America, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (CDC 2014). I believe that deforestations leads to an increase in the occurrence of malaria because of the increased survivability of the Anopheles darlingi mosquito in disturbed areas... ... improved due to land cultivation, all leading to an increase in malaria cases because of the upsurge of the Anopheles darlingi population. References †¢ Vittor, Amy Yomiko, et al. "The effect of deforestation on the human-biting rate of Anopheles darlingi, the primary vector of falciparum malaria in the Peruvian Amazon." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 74.1 (2006): 3-11. †¢ Yasuoka, Junko, and Richard Levins. "Impact of deforestation and agricultural development on anopheline ecology and malaria epidemiology." American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 76.3 (2007): 450. †¢ Olson, Sarah H., et al. "Deforestation and malaria in Mancio Lima county, Brazil." Emerging infectious diseases 16.7 (2010): 1108. †¢ "Malaria." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 05 Feb. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.