What is malaria?

1. Malaria is a disease of the blood, transmitted by mosquitoes that come out at night.
2. The most deadly malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum, is most prevalent in Africa.
3. Malaria causes flu-like symptoms and, if not treated, can lead to coma and even death.

What you might not know about malaria:

1. Malaria was eliminated in the United States in 1951.
2. The vast majority of malaria deaths occur in children under 5 years old in sub-Saharan Africa—a child in Africa dies of malaria every 45 seconds.
3. In 2009, an estimated 781,000 people died from malaria.

The good news about malaria:

1. Malaria is preventable and treatable with simple tools like mosquito nets, safe indoor spraying and effective medicines.
2. Progress is being made. Thanks to an increased effort and worldwide support, many African countries have significantly reduced malaria deaths in recent years.

What you can do to help:

• Donate a $10 mosquito net to help African families protect their children from the deadly bite of a malaria-transmitting mosquito here.

Other famous folks who have had malaria:

• Anderson Cooper
• Cheryl Cole (UK “Britain’s Got Talent?” judge and pop star)
• Jeremy Piven
• King Tut
• Presidents Washington, Monroe, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Teddy Roosevelt & Kennedy