Overview
Malaria, caused by parasites transmitted to people by Anopheles mosquitoes, is one of the world's most common and serious tropical diseases. Thriving in warm tropical and sub-tropical climates, it results in approximately one million deaths every year—the majority of which occur in the most resource-poor countries. Half of the world's population is at risk of acquiring malaria, largely due to deteriorating health systems, growing drug and insecticide resistance, climate change, natural disasters and armed conflict. International efforts to address malaria have intensified in recent years and the U.N. Millennium Development Goals include targets to reduce the impact of malaria by 2015.
State of the Disease
Nearly 245 million acute cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2008, resulting in almost 900,000 deaths. Malaria is a leading cause of death in lower-income countries and for children worldwide. More than 80% of cases and almost 90% of deaths occurred in Africa in 2008, mostly among children under five years old. Overall, it is estimated that malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion annually. Although Africa is hardest hit, an estimated 10% of malaria cases occur in South-East Asia and 4% occur in the Eastern Mediterranean. About half of world’s population in more than 100 countries and territories are at risk for malaria infection. International funding commitments for malaria prevention, including mosquito-control strategies, and for treatment is estimated at $1.7 billion in 2009, but resource needs are estimated to be much higher, projected at around $5 billion per year.
Young children and pregnant women are at the highest risk of malaria infection and mortality. Many children experience initial malaria infection during their first two years of life, when they have not yet developed sufficient immunity, making these early years particularly dangerous. Malaria is a leading cause of death for children worldwide; it is estimated that a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds. Pregnancy reduces immunity to malaria, making women more susceptible to malaria infection and increasing their risk of illness, severe anemia and death.
Although there are several different treatments for malaria, widespread resistance to conventional antimalarial drugs has contributed to increasing morbidity and mortality. Multidrug-resistant malaria is now prevalent in many parts of the world, with the highest rate of drug resistance in South-East Asia. The inappropriate use of antimalarial drugs has contributed to the current situation. Over the past decade, a new group of antimalarials—the artemisinin compounds—have begun being used in combination with other drugs and on an increasingly large scale. These therapies produce a rapid response and are active against multidrug-resistant malaria. As a response to increasing levels of antimalarial resistance, WHO now recommends that all countries experiencing malaria cases that are resistant to conventional therapies use combination therapies.
Sources:
- WHO, World Malaria Report 2009, December 2009
- WHO, One-Page Fact Sheet for World Malaria Report 2009, December 2009.
- WHO, Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update, October 2008
- Roll Back Malaria Partnership, The Global Malaria Action Plan: Key Facts Figures and Strategies, 2008
- Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Executive Summary: The Global Malaria Action Plan, 2008
- United Nations, Millennium Development Goals
