Malaria continues to be a global health challenge. A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines the current status of this battle against malaria and the efforts taken for its control and eradication. This article explores key highlights from the WHO World Malaria Report 2022, insights into what malaria is, and details of initiatives to counteract it.
Malaria Death Statistics
According to the World Malaria Report 2022, high-burden malaria countries managed to stabilize the number of cases and deaths in 2021, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Deaths decreased from 625,000 in the first year of the pandemic to 619,000 in 2021, although they remained higher than the pre-pandemic level of 568,000 deaths in 2019.
Trends in Malaria Cases
The report indicates that the number of Malaria cases continued to increase but at a slower rate, with 247 million cases reported in 2021, up from 245 million cases in 2020 and 232 million in 2019.
High Burden Countries Scenario
Among the eleven high-burden countries, five, namely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, India, Niger, and the United Republic of Tanzania, recorded a decline in deaths. However, these countries continue to contribute heavily to the global disease burden.
Control Tools Used
Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) are the main vector control tool used by endemic countries. The prevalence of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTP) remained consistent in 2021 compared to 2020.
Difficulties in Ending Malaria
Challenges impeding the eradication of Malaria include mutating parasites that evade rapid diagnostic tests, increasing drug resistance, and the invasion of urban-adapted mosquitoes, particularly in Africa. There is an urgent need for new tools and funding to deploy them to defeat malaria.
Understanding Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. Predominantly found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America, and Asia, it usually spreads through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Though preventable and curable, Malaria still poses significant health risks globally.
Current Initiatives to Curb Malaria
WHO has identified 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under its E-2025 Initiative. In India, efforts were begun in 2015 and intensified with the launch of the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) established the Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India), a group of partners working on malaria control.
Challenges in Malaria Vaccine Development
A key challenge to combating malaria is the difficulty in developing an effective vaccine. This is largely due to the ability of the malarial parasite to evade the immune system. RTS, S/AS01 (RTS, S) is currently the only vaccine showing partial protection against malaria in young children.
The battle against malaria is a continuing one, with both successes and challenges. As the global community invests in research and technology, there is hope for better control and eventual eradication of this deadly disease.
