World Malaria Report, 2024

Why in News?

• Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released the World Malaria Report, 2024.

Key findings of World Malaria Report 2024:

• In the year 2023, 263 million cases of malaria and 597,000 deaths are estimated worldwide.
• Of the 83 countries affected by malaria globally in the year 2023, 29 countries were responsible for approximately 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths.
• Nigeria (25.9%), Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique are responsible for more than half of the malaria cases worldwide.
• More than half of the malaria deaths globally occur in 4 countries: Nigeria (30.9%), Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Tanzania.
• 4 countries have managed to reduce their malaria incidence in the period 2022-2023: Bangladesh (-9.2%), India (-9.6%), Indonesia (-5.7%) and Nepal (-58.3%)

India’s situation:

• India will officially move out of the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024.
• India recorded a 9.6% decline in malaria cases between 2022 and 2023.
•  India has achieved an 87% reduction in malaria case incidence between 2000 and 2023, reducing the incidence of malaria cases from 17.7 to 2.3 per 1,000 at risk population.

44 countries declared malaria-free:

• 44 countries have been certified malaria-free by WHO by November 2024, and many more are on track to achieve this goal.
• Countries that have had no malaria cases for at least 3 consecutive years are eligible to apply for WHO certification for malaria-free status.
• Of the 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 now have fewer than 10 cases of malaria annually, up from 4 in 2000.

Malaria:

• Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium (a type of protozoa) that is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.
•  The disease is mostly found in tropical countries.
• It is preventable and treatable.
• It does not spread from person to person.

Symptoms:

• Mild symptoms include fever, chills, and headache.
• Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures and difficulty breathing.

Vulnerable groups:

• Infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and girls, travelers, and people with HIV or AIDS are at greater risk of severe infection.

Species of Plasmodium:

• There are 5 species of Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria in humans:
  • P. falciparum is the most deadly malaria parasite and the African continent is most affected by it.
  • P. vivax is the predominant malaria parasite in most countries outside sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The other 3 malaria species that can infect humans are P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi.