Malaysia: rare outbreak of malaria may be linked to deforestation

In Malaysia, a rare form of malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi parasite is causing more patients the remaining parasites Plasmodium family, accounting for 68% of malaria cases identified in 2013 in the country.

Although the theory is not yet proven, Balbir Singh, director of the malaria research centre at the University Malaysia Sarawak, believes that deforestation is putting the primates of the genus Macaca-common hosts of parasite-in greater contact with humans, resulting in increased parasite transmission between species.

According to a study published in 2013 on Science, the Malaysia lost about 14 percent of its forests between 2000 and 2012. Deforestation occurred mainly due to logging and conversion of forests into plantations of palm oil.

"This is a form of malaria that in the past was rarely seen in people, but today, in some of the remotest areas of the country, all cases of malaria in contact with indigenous are caused by the parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. If the number of cases continue to increase, the transmission between humans through mosquitoes will be a possibility, "indicates Singh, cites the Inhabitat.

Although it is not considered the deadliest parasite Plasmodium family, the Plasmodium knowlesi has a great speed of replication, only 12:0 am â€" while other parasites from the same family takes 48 or 72 hours to make more of themselves. The rapid replication of the parasite makes enough testing and diagnosis of patients before the disease if install in the body. The great speed of multiplication allow the disease to spread more quickly.

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