World Mosquito Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th August to commemorate Sir Ronald Ross a British doctor who discovered the relationship between mosquitoes and the transmission of malaria between humans in 1897.
- The day aims to create awareness about the cause and prevention of Malaria.
- The observance also recognises the efforts of the health care officials and others who are combating the diseases caused by Mosquitoes.
Ross’s Discovery & Nobel Prize:
i.On August 20, 1897, Ronald Ross discovered the malaria parasite while dissecting the stomach tissue of an Female Anopheles mosquito. Later, he confirmed the growth of the parasite in the mosquito.
- Note: The discovery was made in Secunderabad (now in Telangana, India).
ii.His work showed how the parasite enters the organism and laid the foundation for the research on malaria and methods of combating it.
iii.He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for this work.
- He was the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
About Ronald Ross:
i.Ronald Ross was born on 13th May 1857 in Almora, India (now in Almora, Uttarakhand, India).
ii.He has also developed mathematical models for the study of Malaria’s epidemiology.
iii.He was given the Honorary Membership of learned societies of most countries of Europe
iv.He served as Director in Chief of the Ross Institute and Hospital of Tropical Diseases and Hygiene, established by the admirers of his work, and he remained in this position until his death(16th September 1932).
V.Ross wrote extensively on malaria including his book The Prevention of Malaria in 1911.
Significance:
Since 1930s, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a public research university in Bloomsbury, London, the United Kingdom(UK), has been annually organising a commemorative event on 20th August to pay tribute to Sir Ronald Ross.
About Malaria:
Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
5 species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium(P.) and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
WHO & Malaria:
Annually, World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Malaria Day on the 15th of April to raise awareness of the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria.
- The theme of World Malaria Day 2023 (15th April 2023) was “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”.
- WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) coordinates WHO’s global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
