January 2 marked the anniversary of the death of the great cyclist Fausto Coppi.
We joined the commemoration not only to remember the Italian champion, but especially to remember the preventable and treatable cause of his death: undiagnosed malaria.
In 1959 Fausto Coppi was in Africa, in present-day Burkina Faso, along with other famous cyclists for an exceptional race.
During the trip, as per the testimony of his friend and colleague Raphaël Géminiani, there was no shortage of stays in the nature reserves of Fada N'gourma and Pama, where the mosquito population proliferated and the conditions of the accommodation were precarious and lacked mosquito nets.
During their return to Italy, Geminiani and Coppi experienced the same drama. In fact, during the Christmas vacations they were both bedridden suffering from a severe fever. Fausto Coppi was first diagnosed with Asian flu. Raphael Geminiani, on the other hand, was immediately diagnosed by French colleagues with malaria, which was promptly treated with quinine.
Although France took care to alert Italian doctors to the high probability that Coppi had also contracted Plasmodium, the diagnostic question was completely ignored.
Fausto Coppi died on January 2, 1960.
Malaria is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Its human transmission occurs through the bite of an infected female mosquito of the genus Anopheles.
The 'infection is mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with the highest prevalence in Sub-Saharan African states.
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to determine good clinical outcome. Malaria is not only a disease that can be cured from, but it can also be effectively prevented.
Prevention of malaria infection begins with proper behavioral prophylaxis: the 'use of effective mosquito repellent; wearing clothing that covers legs and arms, preferably light-colored; and safe housing where mosquitoes cannot enter.
The indication for a specific anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis should be prescribed by a trained professional.
Before any trip, it is essential to seek the advice of professionals experienced in Preventive and Travel Medicine, who will be able to explain to you the potential risks of your travel destination and the most effective behaviors and prophylaxis to reduce them.
We do not know what the fate of our champion would have been if they had explained preventive strategies to him or diagnosed and treated malaria in a timely manner, but we do know that his death must bring deep reflection to all health professionals and every traveler.