Context:

The recently released World Malaria Report 2024 by the WHO highlights progress towards global malaria control. 

Key Highlights

Global

It reported an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023.

There were 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths.

It is estimated that 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since the year 2000.

There has been steady progress towards the goal of elimination of Malaria. In 2023, 47 of the 83 malaria-endemic countries worldwide reported less than 10,000   cases of the disease.

The African Region continues to bear the heaviest burden of malaria, accounting for an estimated 94% of global cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths in 2023.

• Two-thirds of global malaria cases and deaths are concentrated in 11 African countries which includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana.

India

India has exited the High-Burden-High-Impact (HBHI) group of endemic countries, following progress towards malaria elimination. 

It has reduced its malaria caseload by 69% from 6.4 million in 2017 to 2 million in 2023.

Estimated malaria deaths also registered a 69% decrease from 11,100 to 3500 during the same period.

The progress is attributed to the use of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN). 

• In ACT, the artemisinin first kills the majority of malaria parasites by attacking a certain protein, and the partner drug clears the small number of parasites that remains.

About Malaria

• It is a life-threatening disease, mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.
• Malaria mostly spreads to people through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria.
• There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
• Mild symptoms are fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
• Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection.

India’s Initiatives for Malaria Control

• National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP): Launched in 1953, it was built around three key activities -insecticidal residual spray (IRS) with DDT; monitoring and surveillance of cases; and treatment of patients.
• National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030: Aims at elimination of malaria by 2030.
• National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme: For prevention and control of vector-borne diseases namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis.
• National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination 2023-27: Developed by the National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC). It aims to ensure universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment and accelerate efforts towards attaining malaria-free status. 

Malaria-free Certification

• As of 2023, 44 countries and one territory were certified as malaria-free by the WHO.
• To be certified, a country needs to have eliminated the four main human parasite species: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. Ovale and P. malariae. 
• There should also be zero indigenous malaria cases for at least three consecutive years.
• India aims for zero Indigenous cases by 2027 and full malaria-free certification by 2030.