Abstract

CASTRO, Jorge; CAMERO, Carmen  and  GOMEZ, Wilman. Malaria in the New World: From its Origin to the XXI Century. Comunidad y Salud [online]. 2007, vol.5, n.1, pp.5-14. ISSN 1690-3293.

Starting from a historic-epidemiological review of the available information concerning malaria in our continent after the arrival of the "conquistadores", the authors discuss the relations between parasites, vectors and natural hosts, leaving unsolved the question concerning the origin of malaria parasites in the New World. An outlook of health-disease process as a product of the conquest and the limited experience of our ancestors in front of exotic pathologies arrived from Eurasia is given. A summary of the organized struggle against malaria allows some considerations on its present and future perspectives. Finally, a suggestion for a joint professional and institutional effort with a community based strategy is made, aimed to overcome the blockage and setbacks recorded at the beginning of the XXI century.

Keywords : Malaria; Malaria Paleoepidemiology Origin; Anti-Malaria struggle; Malaria Parasites; Malaria Fever.