Malaria Develops Partially in Immune System

Posted on January 23, 2006

A recent study has found that malaria parasites can partially develop in the immune system which raises more questions and shows that malaria is a very complex disease which may explains why it is so difficult to stop. The BBC reports that doctors think these immune system parasites might blunt the bodies response to the disease.

Parasites developing in the lymph nodes might alert the body that an invader is present, and activate a protective immune response.
Alternatively, their presence might desensitise the body to the parasites, blunting the immune system's response to infection.

Originally scientists believed the parasites developed only in the liver. WHO has a good factsheet on malaria. There have been fears that global warming could allow malaria to spread into North America so it may not always be just a travel risk for U.S. residents.

HEALTH