Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease caused by plasmodium parasites and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is estimated to cause 300-500 million cases and over one million deaths each year, mostly among African children under 5 years old. The document discusses the history and epidemiology of malaria, including key historical milestones in understanding and treating the disease, as well as current statistics on prevalence globally and in specific regions like India and Tamil Nadu. It identifies at-risk groups and challenges in controlling drug-resistant strains of the parasite.
