George Clooney Recovers from Malaria

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney is recovering from a bout with malaria after a trip to the Sudan in early January. Clooney has made the Sudan one of his main charitable interests and is active in efforts to bring peace to the country. This is his second infection with the mosquito-borne illness.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its World Malaria Report 2010, estimates that there were 225 million cases of malaria in 2009, and 781,000 related deaths. Malaria is spread by one of the 30-40 species of Anopheles mosquito. The numbers of illnesses and deaths are highest in those areas with one of the species that prefer to feed on humans rather than animals, such as Africa. WHO estimates that 85 percent of malarial deaths occur in Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report malaria cases in the United States. In nearly all years, the cases are contracted abroad, as Clooney's was, and imported into the U.S. Around 1,400 cases of malaria are reported yearly, with New York City and State having the highest numbers in 2010 and 2009. California ranks second in reported cases in both years. At least one species of Anopheles is native to most of the United States, creating a vector for malaria to spread. Widespread use of the insecticide DDT is credited with eliminating malaria in the U.S. by 1951.

The illness is caused by a parasite carried from host to host by the mosquito. Public health authorities like the CDC and WHO stress prevention as the best means of controlling the illness. Use of anti-malarial drugs, mosquito netting treated with an insecticide and elimination of fresh water puddles where the mosquito breeds are some of the methods used.

Treatment for malaria is unpleasant, as Clooney appears to have discovered. The species of the parasite must be determined for effective treatment, and there are four different parasites. Clooney credits treatment for turning a death sentence into "a bad ten days." Inadequate treatment can result in a relapse as the parasite can be dormant in the liver and reappear months or years later.

Clooney will be discussing his Africa trips with Piers Morgan on CNN Friday. The news of Clooney's illness was first released by Morgan with a comment on Twitter. Morgan reports receiving over 24,000 offers to nurse George Clooney back to health.