Malaria basic Research + Initial thoughts

Malaria Research

Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes and is classed as a serious, fatal disease. If not detected and treated quickly it can be incredibly problematic and even fatal for the person infected. All it takes is a single mosquito bite to become infected.

Symptoms 

• High Temperature
• Sweats and Chills
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Muscle Pain
• Diarrhoea

These symptoms usual appear between seven and eighteen days after the initial infection but in some cases symptoms may not appear in the subject until a year or over. 

As stated in the video. Malaria is caused by a parasite known as plasmodium of which there are many different types, however only a handful cause malaria in Humans. Mainly spread by female (Anopheles) Mosquito's. It is also uncommonly spread through blood transfusions and sharing needles (drug use).

Plasmodium which causes Malaria

• Plasmodium falciparum – mainly found in Africa, it is the most common type of malaria parasite and is responsible for most malaria deaths worldwide.
• Plasmodium vivax – mainly found in Asia and South America. This parasite causes milder symptoms than Plasmodium falciparum, but it can stay in the liver for up to three years, which can result in relapses.
• Plasmodium ovale – fairly uncommon and usually found in West Africa. It can remain in your liver for several years without producing symptoms.
• Plasmodium malariae – this is quite rare and usually only found in Africa.
• Plasmodium knowlesi – this is very rare and found in parts of South East Asia.

Main risk Area's

• Large areas of Africa and Asia
• Central and South America
• Haiti and the Dominican Republic
• Parts of the Middle east
• Some Pacific Islands

Complications

• Severe Anemia: Red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen around the body, leading to weakness and exhaustion.
• Cerebral Anemia: (Rare) Small blood vessels leading to the brain can become blocked leading to seizures, brain damage and comas.

Malaria Facts

• Around 198 million cases of Malaria each year. (uncertainty range: 124-238 million)
• Estimated 584,000 Malaria Deaths
• 2013. 90% of worlds Malaria deaths occurred in Africa
• 430,000 children died before their 5th Birthday
• Mortality rates have fallen by 47% globally since 2000 due to increased prevention and control
• Parasite resistant to artemisinin, the core compound in WHO-recommended combination treatments for uncomplicated malaria, has been detected in 5 countries of south east Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 
• Pregnant women are more at risk

Initial Ideas

Looking at Malaria initially, I feel that it would need to be a more serious animation due to the intensity of the disease and the high levels of mortality that it holds. It could be possible to create a lighter vision from this topic but I wouldn't feel right portraying something like this in that way. 

For this disease I would probably go a lot more informative, so an animation targeted towards older students who are mainly looking for the facts behind the virus and not an animation that will make them laugh or have a lighter tone.