'Monkey Malaria' Is Threatening Male Farmer in Sabah, Malaysia

A recent research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with the Department of Health at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia and Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, has discovered a warning. The study has shown the threat of "Monkey Malaria" to transmit to human has increased. Authority in Sabah has also issued the alert for the Monkey Malaria and actively reduce the mosquitoes that carry the parasite.

The recent study from the three institutions has shown that Monkey Malaria, known as Plasmodium knowlesi malaria, a disease that common in macaque monkey is now affecting human. The study has been published in The Lancet Planetary Health.  Journal vol. 1/3, with title "Individual-Level Factors Associated With The Risk Of Acquiring Human Plasmodium Knowlesi Malaria In Malaysia: a Case-Control Study."

Macaque monkey is a forest-dwelling monkey and deforestation in Sabah has brought the human being to get closer to the macaque monkey that infected with Monkey Malaria, caused by the malaria parasite called Plasmodium knowlesi. Once a human is infected, the parasite has a rapid growth rate in the blood. Once the parasite increase in the very high level, it causes a severe and fatal disease.

Earlier this week, the health authority in Sabah has also increased the effort to reduce the number of Anopheles mosquitoes that are known for transmitting the Monkey Malaria from monkeys to humans, The Star Online reported. President of Infectious Disease Society of Kota Kinabalu, Dr. Timothy William, who is also the principal investigator for the research affirmed that health officials in Sabah have taken the necessary step to reduce the breeding site for Anopheles mosquitoes. Another effort is also to spray insecticides in the area where the mosquitoes are prevalent.

“Those known to be suffering from this disease are given immediate treatment with Artemisinin combination therapy," Dr. William said regarding people who have suffered the Monkey Malaria. "There is continuing research on this emerging disease.”