Couples in West Aceh have suffered from monkey malaria

Aceh – Two residents of Panton Reu sub-district, West Aceh, Aceh, have been attacked by malaria. The husband and wife are now receiving intensive care at a local hospital.

"Last night we gave the medicine and are still being treated for the next three days to make sure the parasites in their blood are not present at all," said Azwar Liza, chief executive of the bureau of the Azaria Liza's health. / 11/2018).

It is known that both residents of West Aceh are infected with malaria, which is infected with long-tailed monkeys during its activity in the forest. Both are known to fish often at night. It is thought that they are bitten by anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria.

This case caused panic among health workers and local residents. The problem is that there are a hundred people in a village who have the same painful symptoms, namely a high fever. But after taking blood samples, only two people were tested positive for malaria in monkeys, caused by Plasmodium Knowlesi.

"Fortunately, Plasmodium Knowlesi can not be pbaded from man to man, but only from monkeys to men, but this does not exclude the possibility of a man-to-man expenditure", explained Azwar.

Plasmodium knowlesi is itself a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, which naturally infects long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). According to Azwar, people infected with malaria are caused by the breeding of monkeys infected with malaria parasites.

In addition, there are mosquitoes that bite the monkey, and mosquitoes come back to sting humans. This case of monkey malaria was only discovered in West Aceh for the first time.

"Prevention must be done quickly before it develops, so for the public, if fever immediately strikes the Puskesmas, and to prevent this disease, miners and forest workers are required to undergo regular malaria checks, "said Azwar.

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