Doctors For Malaria in Mumbai Malaria is the most important parasitic disease of humans, with transmission in 95 countries affecting over 3 billion people and likely causing over 400, 000 deaths each year. The approach to diagnosis consists of clinical diagnosis and parasite diagnosis. Hence a specialist should be approached at the earliest. Parasite based confirmation should be pursued whenever malaria is suspected clinically. Detection of parasites on blood smears by microscopy is the standard tool for diagnosis of malaria; it allows identification of malaria parasite as well as quantification of parasitemia. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for detection of malaria parasite antigens are becoming increasingly important diagnostic tools due to their accuracy and ease of use. RDTs detects one or more of the following antigens: histidine rich protein 2 ( HRP2; for detection of P. falciparum ), Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase ( pLDH; for detection of all species or specific detection of P. falciparum or P. vivax ), and aldolase ( for detection of all species ). Use of molecular tests for malaria detection is generally limited to specialized laboratories. Mosquito vector control methods include use of long – lasting insecticide – treated nets, household insecticide residual spraying, larval control, and genetic control methods. The efficacy of mosquito repellants for protection against malaria is variable depending on the transmitting mosquito vector.