World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year
World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year. Malaria, though is preventable and curable, is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to human beings through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has marked the World Malaria Day 2022 under the theme, "Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives" and calls for investments and innovation for diagnostics and antimalarial medicines against malaria.
In 2020, when the entire world was fighting against the novel coronavirus and the COVID pandemic, 6,27,000 malaria-related deaths were reported in 85 countries; during this period a total of 241 million new cases of malaria were also reported. "More than two thirds of deaths were among children under the age of 5 living in the WHO African Region," the WHO data says.
Global data on Malaria
As per WHO data, the African Region shares the highest global malaria burden. In 2020, 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths were reported from this region. 80% of all malaria deaths in the region were of children below 5 years of age. Four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.9%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (13.2%), United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%) and Mozambique (3.8%).
Malaria: Causes and symptoms
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasites which are spread to people through the bites of the female Anopheles mosquitoes which are infected. Of the total 5 parasites that cause malaria, two pose the greatest risk- Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. These two deadly parasites are mostly prevalent in the African continent and in most countries outside of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The first common symptoms of malaria appear 10-15 days after the person is bit by the infected mosquito. The common signs are fever, headache and chills.
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Malaria: Who is at risk?
Infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as people with low immunity moving to areas with intense malaria transmission such as migrant workers, mobile populations and travellers are at high risk of contracting malaria.
In 2020, close to half of the world's population was at risk of malaria, WHO says.
Malaria free countries
Between 2020 and 2022 a total of 12 countries were certified malaria free by WHO. These countries are: United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Argentina, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, Algeria, China and El Salvador.
These countries have been certified malaria free by the WHO.
" Malaria free certification is awarded by WHO once a country has provided evidence that indigenous transmission of malaria has been interrupted throughout the entire country in the previous 3 consecutive years. Following 3 consecutive years of reporting zero indigenous cases, China and El Salvador have been certified malaria free in 2021," says the latest WHO report.
Malaria status in India
As per the latest WHO report, "World malaria report 2021" released on December 6, 2021, India accounted for about 82% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region.
"On World Malaria Day 2022, we affirm our resolve to make India 'Malaria-Free by 2030' by harnessing innovation & utilising existing tools more efficiently," Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted on Monday. In an event organised on World Malaria Day in Delhi administering the oath to eradicate malaria, the health minister said that 85% malaria cases and 79% mortality has been reduced in the country.