What is a common mode of transmission for malaria?

Malaria is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. When the mosquito bites, it injects the Plasmodium parasite into the bloodstream of the host, which can lead to infection. This mode of transmission is crucial to the lifecycle of the parasite, as it relies on the mosquito as a vector to spread from one individual to another.

In contrast, other transmission modes mentioned are not relevant for malaria. Contaminated food and water is linked to diseases like cholera or hepatitis A, direct person-to-person contact typically pertains to infectious diseases like cold or flu, and airborne particles are associated with respiratory infections such as tuberculosis. Each of these options involves different pathogens and methods of transmission, highlighting the specificity of mosquito bites in the case of malaria.