World Malaria Report 2023: By WHO

GS Paper II Polity

Context: According to the World Malaria Report 2023, Malaria cases continue to dip in India but they are up globally.

What are the key highlights of the World Malaria Report 2023?

As per the World Malaria Report 2023 there were around 33 lakh malaria cases and 5,000 deaths in India last year, a decrease of 30% and 34 % respectively compared with 2021.
The key finding regarding the malaria trend in India according to the World Malaria Report 2023
- Reduction in Malaria cases and Fatalities in 2022: Approximately 33 lakh cases and 5,000 deaths reported, marking a decline of 30% and 34% respectively from 2021.
- Reason for Decline: Effective preventive strategies, case management, availability of vector control tools, point-of-care diagnostics, and prompt community-level treatments.
Globally Upward Trend: Globally, malaria cases rose to 249 million in 2022, depicting an increase of 5 million compared to 2021.
- Over the past decade, global malaria cases have stabilized, decreasing from 243 million in 2000 to 233 million in 2019.
- However, amid the pandemic, cases surged, with an additional 11 million reported in 2020. This figure remained consistent in 2021 but escalated in 2022.
- The global malaria deaths also rose, with 608,000 fatalities recorded in 2022, up from 576,000 in 2019.

About World Malaria Report:

Released By: It is released each year by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Objective: It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of trends in malaria control and elimination across the globe.
New Chapter: This year’s report includes a dedicated chapter focused on the intersection between climate change and malaria.

Also Read: Climate Change And Rising Disease

Type of disease: Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes and caused by plasmodium protozoa. Prevalence: It poses a life-threatening risk, primarily affecting tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, South America, and Asia.
Cause:
- This disease is caused by plasmodium parasites, which spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- These parasites multiply initially in liver cells and then attack Red Blood Cells (RBCs).
Transmission: The transmission of malaria occurs through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites proliferate first in liver cells before invading Red Blood Cells (RBCs).
Species and Threat: Five parasite species cause malaria in humans, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax posing the most significant threat.
Symptoms: Common symptoms include fever and flu-like illness, characterised by chills, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue.

Indian Initiatives to Control Malaria:

National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030)

Target: The Government of India set a target to eliminate malaria in India by 2027.
National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination for 5 years.
- Launched in 2017, It shifted focus from Malaria control to elimination.
- It provided a roadmap to end malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 districts by 2022.
Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India)
- Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- It is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control
India Achievement: India has achieved a reduction of over 83% in malaria morbidity and 92% in malaria mortality between the years 2000 and 2020.