Plasmodium has a parasitic relationship with humans, meaning that while the parasite will benefit from the host, the host will have no benefit from the parasite. A mosquito vector is responsible for transferring the protist into humans. In the case of plasmodium, the host gets malaria, a serious problem in many countries that kill almost 1 million people per year where it is endemic. Infection in humans firsts starts in the liver, and then moves on to the red blood cells. Signs of malaria include fever, chills, coma, convulsions, and headache. In most severe cases, usually infection by the species P. falciparum, the host dies.
Today we do have measures to prevent malaria. Something as simple as bug spray and a mosquito net can prevent malaria. Today we also have anti-malarial medication that can treat most symptoms, but unfortunately many still die because they do not have access to this medication.
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