MELBOURNE, 30 November 2023: Between 2021 and 2022 the largest cases of Malaria happened in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, and the PNG, says a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. The stats come from the World malaria report 2023, released today in Geneva .
There were five million additional cases (compared to pre pandemic times) – Pakistan (2.1 million), Ethiopia (1.3 million), Nigeria (1.3 million), Uganda (0.6 million) amd PNG (0.4 million), the report reveals.
And, the world is worse off in both Malaria cases and deaths, than before the pandemic.
The report deals with six crucial issues – Global state of Malaria, Global state of Malaria interventions, Climate change and Malaria, Other drivers of Malaria epidemics, Progress despite challenges, and What is needed now. (See Report)*
“With the added threat of climate change, sustainable and resilient malaria responses are needed now more than ever. Urgent actions to curb and eliminate malaria should be coupled with efforts to slow the pace of global warming and reduce its effects.” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General in a key message. (see WHO Q-A on World Malaria Report 2023)**
“Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat”, according to the WHO.
** WHO Q-A on World Malaria Report 2023.
