Context: The WHO released its World Malaria Report for 2024, highlighting global trends and regional progress in combating malaria.

• While global progress has stalled, the South-East Asia region, particularly India, has shown significant improvement in reducing malaria cases and deaths.

Key Findings

• Globally, Malaria cases rose to 263 million in 2023, with an incidence of 60.4 per 1000 population at risk, up from 58.6 in 2022. 

• The WHO African Region accounted for 94% of global cases.

Findings related to India: 

• Decline in Malaria Cases:  Reduced by 69%, from 6.4 million in 2017 to 2 million in 2023.

• Decline in Malaria deaths: declined by 68%, from 11,100 in 2017 to 3,500 in 2023.

• In 2024, India officially exited the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group.

About Malaria

• It is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Geographical prevalence: Mostly found in tropical countries.

• Symptoms:  Fever, chills and headache, fatigue etc. 

• Five Plasmodium species cause malaria in humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. knowlesi.

• P. falciparum and P. Vivax pose the greatest threat.

• Malaria Vaccines: RTS,S/AS01 vaccine (WHO approved first vaccine in 2021), R21/Matrix-M (WHO approved second vaccine in 2023 ). 

Initiatives

• WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030, updated in 2021, provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries.

• National Strategic Plan: Malaria Elimination 2023-27

Factors increasing malaria vulnerability

• Biological vulnerability: pertains to physiological characteristics, such as sex characteristics, age, immune response and other genetic factors.

• Environmental Factors: For instance climate variability and land-use changes exacerbate exposure.

• Social and Economic Factors: Vulnerabilities arise from socioeconomic status, gender inequalities, disability, ethnicity, and migrant status.

• Structural Challenges: Conflict, migration, and disruptions in healthcare access increase malaria risk.