Yes, malaria is a communicable disease.
Understanding Communicable Diseases
Communicable diseases are illnesses that can be spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person. These diseases are often caused by infectious agents like bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
Malaria as a Communicable Disease
According to the provided reference: "Communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), are among the leading causes of death and disability in low-income countries and marginalized populations."
This statement explicitly includes malaria in the list of communicable diseases. Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. While it's not directly transmitted from person to person like a cold or the flu, the parasitic infection spreads via a vector (the mosquito), classifying it as communicable.
Key Characteristics of Malaria
- Causative Agent: Plasmodium parasites
- Mode of Transmission: Bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes
- Impact: Significant cause of death and disability, particularly in low-income countries.
Other Examples of Communicable Diseases from the Reference
Besides malaria, the reference mentions other communicable diseases:
- HIV/AIDS
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Viral Hepatitis
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
