The history of World Mosquito Day

• World Mosquito Day is held annually on August 20 to commemorate the discovery made by Sir Ronald Ross in 1895 that female Anopheles mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of Malaria.

• Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoans. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, Asia and South America.

• World Mosquito Day celebrations have been held in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine since the 1930s. The aim is to raise awareness about malaria, treatment and prevention. Since then other care organisations and institutions also organise events.

• An app exists that is 94% accurate in the detection of malaria. The Lifelense Smartphone app simply requires a drop of blood from a patient put it on a slide with a marker and a dye that only the malarial parasite can absorb. Then, take an image of that slide with the Smartphone which then uses a detection algorithm that identifies red blood cells and from there, you can identify the malaria within those red blood cells.

• Africa is the most affected by Malaria with upto 90% of deaths worldwide. Mothers, children people living with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of contracting severe malaria.

To read 10 things you did not know about mosquitoes, click here.