Malaria, Mosquitos and Rumors

Electron micrograph of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, latched onto a red blood cell (photo from Wikimedia) 12 July 2026 In today’s social media climate rumors spread quickly and persist despite the truth. This is nothing new in human history. When Francesco I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, died of a fever at age 46 in 1587, the rumor mill said his younger brother Ferdinando had poisoned him. The rumor lived on, even though Francesco’s doctors said he died of malaria. Francesco I de’ Medici and his younger brother Ferdinando I de’ Medici (images from Wikimedia) Malaria? It’s been among humans for 2.5 to 30 million years, spread by Anopheles mosquitos that carry Plasmodium parasites, the most deadly being Plasmodium falciparum. The parasite reproduces in the liver then moves into the bloodstream to latch onto and destroy red blood cells (photo at top), causing fever, fatigue, vomiting, headaches, jaundice, seizures and often death. Anopheles merus, gambiae complex…