Why in news?

The 2024 ‘World Malaria Report' has been released by WHO. As per the report, India has made "significant progress" in reducing malaria incidence and mortality.

What’s in today’s article?

• Malaria
• Key highlights of the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024
• India specific observations in the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024

Malaria

• About
  • It is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is a life-threatening disease primarily found in tropical countries.
  • It is preventable and curable.
• Transmission of Malaria
  • Malaria is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another; the disease is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
  • Five species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat.

Key highlights of the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024

• Global Burden (2023):
  • 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths were reported globally.
  • African Region accounted for 95% of deaths, disproportionately affecting young children and pregnant women.
• Global Progress Since 2000:
  • 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths were averted.
  • Case incidence dropped significantly, with steady improvements in many regions.
• Certification of Malaria-Free Countries
  • As of November 2024, WHO has certified 44 countries and one territory, including Egypt most recently, as malaria-free.
    • Certification requires three consecutive years of zero indigenous malaria cases.
  • 25 malaria-endemic countries now report fewer than 10 cases annually, up from 4 in 2000.
• Country-Specific Trends in Malaria Cases
  • Reduction in Cases (2022-2023): Nepal (-58.3%), India (-9.6%), Bangladesh (-9.2%), and Indonesia (-5.7%).
  • Increases in Cases: North Korea (+47.9%), Thailand (+46.4%), and Myanmar (+45.1%).
  • Timor-Leste and Bhutan reported zero indigenous malaria cases in 2023.
• South-East Asia’s Contribution to Malaria Reduction
  • The WHO South-East Asia Region accounted for 1.5% of global malaria cases in 2023, with India contributing nearly half and Indonesia about one-third.
  • Estimated malaria cases in the region dropped by 82.4%, from 22.8 million in 2000 to 4 million in 2023.
  • Malaria deaths in the region fell by 82.9%, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023, with India and Indonesia accounting for 88% of these deaths.
• Challenges
  • In Africa
    • Despite global progress, Africa remains the region most affected by malaria.
  • Funding and Systemic Challenges
    • Funding in 2023 reached $4 billion, far below the $8.3 billion target set by the Global Technical Strategy.
    • Insufficient funding resulted in gaps in insecticide-treated nets, medicines, and other critical tools.
    • Additional challenges include fragile health systems, weak surveillance, and threats such as drug and insecticide resistance.
    • Exacerbating factors include conflicts, natural disasters, climate change, and population displacement.
  • Recommendations for Equity and Innovation
    • Emphasis on robust data systems to monitor health inequities, with disaggregated data by sex, age, and social factors.
    • Advocacy for equity, gender equality, and human rights as foundational principles of anti-malaria innovation.
    • Engagement of affected communities in designing and evaluating new tools and approaches to combat malaria.
• Call to Action
  • To sustain progress and address persistent challenges, the WHO urges increased investments, innovative approaches, and targeted action in high-burden regions, particularly in Africa.

India specific observations in the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024

• India Exits HBHI Group: Milestone in Malaria Control
  • India has successfully reduced its malaria burden, exiting the High-Burden-High-Impact (HBHI) group of endemic countries.
  • The country's malaria cases decreased by 69%, from 6.4 million in 2017 to 2 million in 2023, and malaria deaths fell from 11,100 to 3,500 in the same period.
• Key Strategies Behind India’s Success
  • Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy (ACT):
    • Artemisinin kills most malaria parasites, while a partner drug clears the remaining parasites.
  • Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN):
    • These nets block and kill mosquitoes, reducing mosquito populations and their lifespan when widely used.
  • Targeted Interventions:
    • Focused efforts in forested and tribal areas in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the North-East improved access to diagnostics, treatments, and drugs.
    • Deployment of new-generation insecticide-treated nets offered enhanced protection.
  • Effective Monitoring and Case Management:
    • Consistent evaluations helped ensure proper implementation of interventions.