body-container-line-1

Malaria Is Caused By Plasmodium Parasites Until Proven Wrong With Concrete Scientific Evidence

Feature Article Malaria Is Caused By Plasmodium Parasites Until Proven Wrong With Concrete Scientific Evidence
AUG 21, 2018 LISTEN

Malaria is one of the biggest health problems with estimated number of 3.3 billion (half the world population) at risk. Each year, over 200 million cases are diagnosed with 90% of the cases pertaining to Africa. In 2010, over 655,000 people were reported dead as a result of malaria infection of which Africa had the highest mortality rate. You can imagine how the world, especially Africa, is losing human resources due to malaria-related deaths.

These are the key reasons why WHO and UN have instituted lots of intervention programs to curb the situation. It’s therefore a very sensitive situation when contradictory information is thrown at the public to undermine such life-saving investments.Malaria primarily begins when a person is exposed to and bitten by an infected female anopheles mosquito and the Plasmodium parasites are deposited into his/her bloodstream.

These parasites undergo stage-dependent transformations that produce clinical symptoms with time such as fever, severe anaemia, vomiting, etc. The period of transformation to clinical manifestation is normally termed pathogenesis. Malaria pathogenesis has been scientifically documented resulting in the establishment of world-leading faculties to champion malaria research most importantly, the discovery of effective treatment options including preventive vaccines.

Recently, there have been emerging claims that malaria is not caused by Plasmodium parasites but rather filth in the liver. Surprising, this has been published in most media outlets including graphic.com.gh. In as muchas local research findings and disease interventions should be encouraged and supported, this assertion purported by Dr. Asensowill not be accepted by the scientific/medical community. In his submission he says, malaria patients get better when they undergo liver detoxification (cleansing) in his clinic; however,he is far from providing cause and effect findings to support this.

Unlike the Plasmodium parasites where disease pathogenesis has been scientifically established with vaccine development in the pipeline, Dr. Asenso is yet to providemechanistic evidence of his hypothesis. He further posits that the filth is as a result of eating excess processed foods. If so, then those living abroad should be at a higher risk of testing positive for malaria which is not so.It’s a fact that the liver plays a crucial role in malaria pathogenesis where it serves as a key stage for the Plasmodium parasites. It's therefore not surprising that anything that affects liver function can possibly interfere with the life cycle of the parasites. Filth could therefore affect the normal physiological functions of the liver but cannot be a primary CAUSE of malaria until proven with concrete evidence.

Clearly, Dr. Asenso has not undertaken any cause and effect studies on his theory but rather basing his argument on observational findings from his practise. This could also be interpreted as a “cheap hype" to advertise his naturopathic clinic.Nevertheless, we encourage Dr. Asenso to come again with scientifically tested and peer-reviewed findings to support his claim. Ghana and Africa will be more than proud to see your hypothesis tested and accepted by the world. Until then, malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites.

Meshach Asare-Werehene
Immuno-Oncologist

body-container-line