Malaria parasites in Nigeria are genetically diverse: a danger but also a useful tool
SEGUN ISAAC OYEDEJI, Lecturer, Federal University, Oye Ekiti MALARIA is one of the world’s most dangerous parasitic disease and a major public health challenge, especially in Africa. Each year, over 200 million new cases of malaria occur globally. This leads to the death of over 400,000 individuals, most of whom are children below the age of five. Nigeria accounts for about a quarter of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide. Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Humans acquire malaria when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites an individual and injects Plasmodium parasites into the bloodstream. Five species…