Hiv, Vih, Aids, Sida, And Pwas

This UN stamp, along with 5 others, was issued to honor 70 years of the World Health Organization. Diverse pathogens are sketched along with an antique microscope, representing the quest to find the cause of epi- and pandemics. (A virus would not be visible in a microscope of this type.) The WHO was founded in April, 1948 and is centered in Geneva, Switzerland.

A tribute to Alphonse Laveran (1845-1922), who examined the blood of malaria patients during his years in Algeria and discovered the pathogen. Later he found them again in patients in Rome, but it took years for his findings to become accepted. It wasn't 'bad air', it was a parasite that was causing the disease. He received the Nobel Prize in 1907.

The French/Algerian tribute to A. Laveran shows him on the background of the hospital in Constantine, Algeria, where he first discovered the malaria pathogen. A newer stamp shows the Pont Sidi Rached, a well-known landmark of the city which was built decades after Laveran's years there but is also included in the older stamp. 1954 and 2008

Ronald Ross (1857-1932) worked for many years in India; one of his main areas of interest was the examination of mosquitoes that had been recognized by Laveran as the vectors of malaria. He was the first to describe the complicated development of the parasite within the insect.

A stamp which honors Ronald Ross (1857-1932) shows the malaria parasite inside a red blood cell and the black and white photograph shows the difference between healthy and infected (the wrinkled ones) red blood cells as seen in a scanning electron microscope. Part of the "Medical Breakthroughs" set 2010.

A tribute to Ronald Ross. In the background a mosquito having supper and a light microscope image of blood cells of an infected person. 2009

Both Laveran and Ross were honored on Swedish Nobel stamps. 1962, 1967

The peoples of South America knew about the fever-quenching properties of an extract from the bark of cinchona plants. These plants are native to South America and became much sought after when Europeans came there and began using such extracts to treat malaria fevers. Seeds were taken to other parts of the world and quinine is now produced in Africa and Indonesia. UN 1990

Cinchona plants can be grown in central Africa and this region is one of the producers of natural quinine. Most species grow in sub-tropical and tropical regions at about 1-3 thousand meters altitude. Chips of cinchona bark.

Joseph Caventou (1795–1877) was a French pharmacist, a professor at the School of Pharmacy in Paris. He collaborated with Pierre-J. Pelletier (1788-1842) to isolate the active anti-malarial ingredient quinine from cinchona plants. Quinaquina is the original name of the cinchona plants. Note that this was accomplished years before the work of Laveran and Ross.

In many countries the first of May is Labor Day - a holiday during which millions of people gather in town squares, etc. to discuss and perhaps demonstrate for improved working conditions. A good day to honor and thank all nurses across the world for their tireless work taking care of the ill. 1931, 50 years after the nurse Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512) was an Italian merchant, explorer, and navigator from Florence. He is credited with having sailed to what he called the New World and doubting that it was the far east as Columbus first thought ("Indians"). The claim inspired cartographer Martin Waldseemüller to recognize Vespucci's accomplishments in 1507 by applying the name America for the first time to his map showing the New World. Stamp, 1954, designed after portrait attributed to Cristofano dell'Altissimo. Pathogens and history make a fascinating topic: Vespucci died of malaria.

A few more stamps honoring Amerigo Vespucci. Maybe he contracted malaria on one of his travels; on the other hand, Spain was not called free of malaria until about 50 years ago. Vespucci died in Sevilla which is close to extended wetlands, and he also spent years in Italy, where malaria was widespread.

David Livingstone (1813-1873) is known for his years of exploring Africa; one of the highlights of his expeditions was seeing (and naming) the Victoria Falls. The souvenir sheet by Guinea Bissau (2013) illustrates scenes from his life, the fourth stamp shows how sick he became, needing to be carried by his helpers. The mosquito up on the frame symbolizes malaria, and he had already been weakened by dysentery.

Only a few years ago DNA analysis of Tutankhamun's mummy revealed that he carried several strains of malaria. Malaria may well have been the cause of death in this young pharaoh, although his mummy showed signs of several other ailments, primarily genetic disorders. He died in 1325 BC and is the oldest known case of malaria so far.