Many people are unfamiliar with the disease malaria. While not as common as many illnesses, it has, however, shown its face to many travelers. Although it is not contagious, malaria kills nearly 3 million people worldwide every year. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which are infected with the malaria parasite. The parasite is found in the red blood cells and can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. New studies indicate it may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn child before or during delivery -which is called congenital malaria.
