World Malaria Report 2024

• 02 Jan 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted India’s remarkable progress in its World Malaria Report 2024. India significantly reduced malaria cases and related deaths between 2017 and 2023, marking a major milestone. 

• India aims to achieve malaria-free status by 2030, with zero indigenous cases by 2027. 

Malaria 

• Malaria is a life-threatening vector-borne disease caused by the Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 
  • 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. 
• Malaria is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia. 
  • The mosquito becomes infected after biting an infected person. The malaria parasites then enter the bloodstream of the next person the mosquito bites. The parasites travel to the liver, mature, and then infect red blood cells. 
• Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Notably, malaria is both preventable and curable. 

What are the Findings of the Report? 

• Global Findings: 
  • Disease Burden: 
    • An estimated 263 million malaria cases occurred globally in 2023, an increase of 11 million cases from 2022. 
    • Malaria mortality stood at 597,000 deaths globally, showing a decline compared to 622,000 deaths in 2020. 
  • Geographic Distribution: 
    • The WHO African Region carried 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths in 2023. 
    • Five countries—Nigeria (26%), Democratic Republic of Congo (13%), Uganda (5%), Ethiopia (4%), and Mozambique (4%)—accounted for nearly 52% of global malaria cases. 
    • Since 2015, nine countries, including Egypt in 2024, have been certified malaria-free. 
  • Intervention Uptake: 
    • The rollout of two malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, has significantly increased vaccine coverage in endemic areas. 
• India Specific Findings: 
  • Historical Transformation: At independence, India faced 7.5 crore malaria cases annually with 800,000 deaths, posing a critical public health challenge. 
    • Persistent efforts have cut cases by over 97%, reducing them to 2 million annually, while deaths have plummeted to just 83 by 2023. 
  • Latest Achievements (2017-2024): From 2015 to 2023, Malaria cases fell from 11,69,261 to 2,27,564, and deaths dropped from 384 to 83, representing an 80% reduction. 
    • The Annual Blood Examination Rate increased from 9.58 (2015) to 11.62 (2023), ensuring early detection and intervention. 
    • In 2024, India exited WHO's High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group, marking a key milestone. 
      • HBHI is a country-led approach on global malaria response. 
  • Reduction in Disease Burden: 
    • States in high-burden decreased from 10 to 2 (Mizoram & Tripura). 
    • Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya transitioned to medium-burden. 
    • Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli moved to low-burden. 
    • Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry achieved Zero status, eligible for subnational malaria elimination verification. 

What are the Government Initiatives to Curb Malaria? 

• National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030 
• National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme: Addresses various vector-borne diseases, including malaria, through prevention and control measures. 
• National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP): Launched in 1953, to address the severe impact of malaria. 
  • It focuses on three core activities: insecticidal residual spraying (IRS) with DDT, case monitoring and surveillance, and patient treatment. 
• High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Initiative: Initiated in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh) in 2019. 
  • It focuses on malaria reduction through insecticidal net distribution. 
• Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), collaborates with partners on malaria control research. 

 

 UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

 Q. Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine? (2010)

(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium 

(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection 

(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria 

(d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host 

 Ans: (b)