April 25 is the First World Malaria Day.

You probably know that malaria is spread through mosquitoes, but did you know that it has been used as a treatment for syphilis?

Malaria has been with us a long time and had some interesting roles in history—playing major parts in everything from economic development to military battles. See how much you know about malaria and how much you know about ways you can fight malaria. (Challenge yourself—try to answer all the questions in 30 seconds.)

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1. All of the following US Presidents had malaria except:

a. George Washington
b. John F. Kennedy
c. Franklin Roosevelt
d. Abraham Lincoln

2. During the American Civil War, malaria accounted for how many estimated deaths?

a. 5,000
b. 8,000
c. 10,000
d. 15,000

3. The types of mosquitoes responsible for malaria transmission in the U.S. are still widely prevalent here, meaning malaria could be reintroduced in the U.S.

True or False?

4. About how many people are infected with malaria annually?

a. 20-40 thousand
b. 600-800 thousand
c. 100-200 million
d. 300-500 million

5.President Franklin Roosevelt assembled a panel of experts to evaluate the economic impact of malaria in the US. They concluded that malaria reduced the output of southern states by:

a. 11%
b. 25%
c. 33%
d. 47%

6. It’s estimated that malaria reduces the Gross Domestic Product of some African countries by:

a. 10%
b. 20%
c. 30%
d. 40%

7. What percent of the research budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American government’s biomedical research center, is spent on malaria research for things like new treatments, better prevention, and a vaccine?

a. 0%
b. 0.3%
c. 4.7%
d. 9.2%

8. Challenges in malaria control include which of the following?

a. Rapid spread of antimalarial drug resistance, i.e., current drugs lose effectiveness and new drugs are continually needed.
b. Poverty
c. Increased resistance of vector mosquitoes to insecticides (pyrethroid & DDT)
d. Lack of an effective vaccine
e. All of the above.

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For answers and explanations please click here.

-Christine Kim, Families USA, Global Health Initiative