Malaria is the world’s deadliest parasitic vector borne disease. Although Malaria mortalities have dropped by 25% in the last 12 years, according to the World Malaria Report 2011, around there were 216 million cases of the disease, with an estimated 655 000 deaths. This number may even be as high as 907 000.
Malaria is a disease of poverty and about half the world’s population is at risk. Children under the age of 5, pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS are most at risk.
It accounts for
- 20% of mortality under the age of 5 years
- 10% of Africa’s disease burden
In areas with high transmission areas it can be responsible for
- 40% of public health expenditure
- 30-50% of inpatient admissions
- Up to 50% of outpatient visits
- An economic loss of 1.3% (Source: Roll Back Malaria: http://www.rbm.who.int/cmc_upload/0/000/015/370/RBMInfosheet_3.htm)
Despite all this, Malaria is preventable and curable. Various efforts, such as the Roll Back Malaria partnership, involve diverse groups such as governments, the private sector, as well as research and academic institutions.
For more information, please visit the following websites for information on Malaria, Malaria day activities as well as information about companies involved in the fight against Malaria. The Centre for Occupational, Tropical and Hospital infections would like to thank Alere Healthcare, Novartis, Bayer, Wirsam Scientific and Whitehead Scientific for their support of our World Malaria day symposium