Private MD News

Because of subtle symptoms, malaria test still important

Category: Infectious Diseases

Earlier this month, scientists reportedly made an important discovery into malaria and have been able to pinpoint exactly where the disease originated from.

Researchers told the Associated Press that they found humans were first exposed to malaria through chimpanzees. Though the exact date of the transfer is not known, the scientists estimated it could have taken place as long as 2 million years ago or as recently as 10,000 years.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, Tufts University and the National Geographic Society.

Dr Nathan D. Wolfe told the news provider that the finding may help future generations avoid diseases that could potentially jump from animal to human.

"This makes the task of stopping future disease spillovers from animals to humans vital, not only for saving lives today, but for the health of people for many generations to come," Wolfe said.

Some of the disease's symptoms include fever, nausea and the chills. However, some people can go years with the disease in their system and not show any signs. The surest way to see if a person has the disease is through malaria testing, which involves testing a person's blood.