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World Malaria Day 2024: Causes, symptoms, precautions and more
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
The WHO reports that although there has been progress in decreasing malaria cases, far too many individuals remain at high risk of contracting the illness.
World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on April 25 to raise awareness about the control and prevention of this disease. On World Malaria Day 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be addressing obstacles to health equity, gender equality, and human rights in malaria responses globally, along with practical steps to overcome them, alongside the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and other partners.
According to WHO, World Malaria Day aims to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to its prevention and control. It was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007.
The WHO reports that although there has been progress in decreasing malaria cases, far too many individuals remain at high risk of contracting the illness. The most vulnerable groups continue to be disproportionately impacted including pregnant women, newborns, children under five, refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons, and Indigenous Peoples.
As per the reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), malaria kill over 600,000 people around the world in 2021, mostly young children.
According to the reports from WMR 2019, 3% of the world’s malaria cases are in India. Despite being the highest malaria burden country of the SEA region, India showed a reduction in reported malaria cases of 49% and deaths of 50.5% compared with 2017. India has made remarkable progress during recent years in reducing malaria and has a vision of a malaria-free country by 2027 and elimination by 2030.
Theme
The theme for this year is “Accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.” The day highlights the efforts to end the disease from the root and to educate people to prevent its spread.
Causes of Malaria
The deadly mosquito-borne disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasites that spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The five parasitic species, P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi are responsible for the disease. The first are specific for humans while the last one P. knowlesi spreads the illness in macaques and monkeys.
Symptoms and Transmission
The common symptoms that usually begin within 10-15 days after the bite and include fever, headache and chills but the people from the endemic areas, may not experience any symptoms because of their immunity.
Only mosquito bites from infected mosquitoes can transmit malaria which is not communicable and cannot pass from one person to another. The female mosquitoes Anopheles come in more than 400 species, of which about 40 are considered vector species and are capable of spreading the disease.
Prevention and Treatment
Malaria can be prevented with proven tools and methods like bed nets, insecticide spraying, staying indoors, keeping your surroundings clean and many more ways. Early diagnosis and complete treatment of malaria prevent its transmission.
According to WHO, World Malaria Day aims to reduce the impact of malaria in the following ways:
Ending discrimination and stigma.
Engaging communities in health decision-making.
Bringing health care close to where people live and work through primary health care.
Addressing factors that increase malaria risk.
Including malaria control interventions in universal health coverage.
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