For many years, malaria has been considered to be one of the most devastating global plagues. Year after year, 300 to 500 million people worldwide contract the disease. Malaria claims the lives of one million people per year. Children are most frequently affected; every day 3000 children in Africa under the age of five die of malaria.

The malaria pathogen is a microscopically small, single-celled parasite named “plasmodium”. It is transmitted from person to person by the malaria mosquito. One single bite is sufficient to transport the pathogens into the human blood stream. Their first destination is the liver, where they proliferate. After several days, they leave the liver cells, which are ultimately destroyed in the process.

Back in the blood stream, the malaria pathogens invade the red blood corpuscles, and continue to multiply inside until the red cells burst make them their home and after a while cause the cells to burst. Then, thousands of additional malaria pathogens are released and now seek "fresh" red corpuscles.

The remains of the ruptured blood corpuscles and the many pathogens that are released trigger the feared malaria fever attacks.

The term malaria derives from the Italian. In earlier times, the notion was that the bad air (“male aria” in Italian) in swamp areas causes the illness.