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14th December 2024 (12 Topics)

World Malaria Report 2024

Context

The World Malaria Report 2024, released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 11, 2024, highlights a concerning increase in global malaria cases and deaths. Here’s a simplified explainer of the report’s key findings:

Global Malaria Trends

  • In 2023, the number of malaria cases worldwide surged to 263 million, up from 252 million in 2022. This represents an increase from 226 million cases in 2015.
  • Malaria deaths also rose to 597,000 in 2023, compared to 578,000 in 2015. However, this was a slight improvement compared to the 2020 spike, which saw an additional 55,000 deaths due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19
  • Africa remains the hardest-hit continent, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of deaths in 2023. The countries with the highest number of malaria deaths in Africa were Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, and Tanzania.
  • India’s Malaria Progress
  • India has made significant progress in combating malaria. Between 2017 and 2023, the country saw a 69% reduction in malaria cases (from 6.4 million to 2 million) and a 68% reduction in deaths (from 11,100 to 3,500).
  • Despite this progress, India still accounted for half of all malaria cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2023, with around 2 million cases. India made significant gains, leading to its official exit from the High Burden High Impact (HBHI) initiative in 2024.

About Malaria

  • Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 
  • The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person.
  • There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans:
    • P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. 
    • P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
    • Other malaria species: P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi.
  • Causes: Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans most commonly through mosquito bites.
  • Symptoms: Fever, Chills, General feeling of discomfort, Headache, Nausea and vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain, Muscle or joint pain, Fatigue, Rapid breathing, Rapid heart rate, Cough.
  • It is preventable and curable.

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