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.

Also Read: Climate Change And Rising Disease

About Malaria 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.

Source: Indian Express