Malaria and West Nile Virus NIAID-Supported Research Fact Sheets Updated

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Malaria is one of the major human killers worldwide. Hundreds of people in the United States develop malaria every year, usually after they travel to places where malaria is common.

The disease is caused by a parasite spread by mosquitoes. Even though malaria can usually be successfully treated, it may take several weeks for an infected person to recover fully.

Whereas malaria is an ancient disease, West Nile virus is an emerging infectious disease in the United States. First identified in Uganda in 1937, West Nile virus reached the United States in 1999. Like malaria, West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms of West Nile virus infection include fever, headache, and swollen lymph glands. If West Nile virus enters the brain, it can cause life-threatening inflammation of the brain or linings of the spinal cord.

In 2005, there were almost 3,000 cases of West Nile virus in the United States, including almost 120 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no specific therapies for West Nile virus infection. You can read about West Nile Virus and malaria in updated fact sheets that outline basic research on prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of West Nile Virus.

Next Steps
Highlights of NIAID-supported malaria research can be found at www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/malaria2.htm.

The fact sheet on West Nile virus can be found at www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/westnile.htm.

Information on NIAID-sponsored research can be viewed at www3.niaid.nih.gov/research/topics.