ABOUT
The burden of malaria holds a formidable place in global public health. Malaria is a life-threatening preventable disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Over 200 million estimated cases of malaria were reported in 2012 and 229 million estimated cases in 2019.
The World Health Organization African Region is particularly affected accounting for 94% of all cases and deaths. Children under 5 are exceptionally vulnerable, accounting for 67% of all malaria deaths worldwide.
Understanding malaria is the first step of conquering it. This application aims to strengthen the consumer's knowledge and awareness in a fun creative manner. The best way to understand complex, interconnected systems is to play with them!
The Life Cycle of Malaria is a game that tries to visualise the life cycle of malaria in interactive 3-D. Players take on the role of either mosquito or malaria parasite as they progress through the game's levels, accumulating points.
The players learn about why mosquito bites itch, why pregnant women are more likely to be bitten, and how the parasite manages to survive. Other quiz questions ask about the areas of the world where malaria is common, and the times of the day when mosquitoes are most active.
The game is an educational app aimed at anyone interested in malaria or mosquitoes.
It is currently available on Android, Google Play store.
The game was developed by Jakob Rossner with the kind and generous help of the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.
Want to be involved or do you have feedback? Please feel free to reach out (see below).
Screenshots
PRESS
Game shows mosquito's-eye view of malaria https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-04-24-game-shows-mosquitos-eye-view-malaria
Satellite Tracking, Gaming Take on Malaria https://blogs.voanews.com/techtonics/2015/05/22/satellite-tracking-gaming-take-on-malaria
Developer: Jakob Rossner & Nuffield Department of Medicine , UK
Developed: July 2014 -2015 , Updated April 2021
Website: https://www.thelifecycleofmalaria.com
Contact: jakobrossner [a] gmail.com
Twitter: @jakob_rossner
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ox.ac.uk.ndm.MalariaInteractive