Malaria Prevention: Let’s close the gap on World Malaria Day 2017
(http://www.who.int/campaigns/malaria-day/2017/en/)
The World Health Organisation is calling on closing the gap in malaria prevention on World Malaria Day 25 April 2017. Although new malaria cases fell by 21% globally between 2010 and 2015, an estimated 43% of people at risk in Sub-Saharan Africa are still not protected. In the region, insecticide-treated nets have had the greatest impact, accounting for an estimated 69% of cases prevented through control tools.
CASES: 212 million – In 2015, there were 212 million cases of malaria world wide.
INCIDENCE: 21% – Between 2010 and 2015, there was global decrease in malaria incidence.
MORTALITY: 29% – Between 2010 and 2015, there was a decrease in global malaria mortality rates.
Close up a Mosquito sucking human blood
In Support of World Malaria Day 2017, lets look at key facts about Malaria.
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- In 2015, 91 countries and areas had ongoing malaria transmission.
- Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places.
- Between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk (the rate of new cases) fell by 21% globally. In that same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk fell by 29% globally among all age groups, and by 35% among children under 5.
- The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths.
(http://www.who.int/campaigns/malaria-day/2017/en/)