What is the major mode of transmission for malaria?

Malaria is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, making vector-borne transmission the major mode of its spread. When an infected mosquito bites a human, it injects the Plasmodium parasites into the bloodstream, which then travel to the liver, multiply, and eventually invade red blood cells, leading to the symptoms associated with malaria.

This mode of transmission is highly effective because the mosquitoes can travel and bite various hosts, allowing the parasites to disperse widely in affected regions. Understanding this transmission method is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies, such as mosquito control measures, use of insecticide-treated bed nets, and prophylactic medications for travelers in endemic areas.

Other options, such as airborne droplets or direct contact with infected individuals, do not play a role in the transmission of malaria since the disease does not spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact. Similarly, while contaminated food and water can transmit certain infections, malaria is not one of them, as it specifically requires mosquito vectors for its lifecycle and transmission to humans.