‘War against malaria far from over’

WHO records 212 million new cases in 2015; India among countries worst-affected

(FILES)A mosquito is bloated with blood as it inserts its stinger into human flesh in this undated file photo obtained from the US Department of Agriculture(USDA) on September 9, 2002. US researchers have carried out genetic tweaks to malaria-carrying mosquitos so their offspring feature genes that block the parasite which causes the disease, opening the way to eradicating it. Previous studies in recent years had already shown it was possible to modify mosquitos genetically so they neutralize the parasite called Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria. The new study, published November 24, 2015 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, marks an advance in a gene-editing technique called Crispr. It involves inserting parasite-blocking genes in the DNA of Anopheles stephensi mosquitos, which are a leading vector of malaria in Asia, to ensure that these genes are passed on to the bugs' offspring. The researchers said they had achieved a rate of transmission of 99.5 percent. AFP PHOTO/HANDOUT/USDA == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: "AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / USDA"/ NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==

The global fight against malaria is in “urgent need” of more funding, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday while releasing the latest World Malaria Report.

According to the report, there were 212 million new cases of malaria and 4,29,000 deaths worldwide in 2015. Further, nearly 78% of Plasmodium vivax malaria cases in 2015 occurred in just four countries: Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Despite the billions of dollars spent on malaria programmes, the U.N. health agency said too many people are missing out on available resources like medicines and bed nets that protect against mosquitoes that spread the disease.

WHO had set a goal of cutting malaria cases to “near zero” by the end of last year. It fell far short, and now is aiming to reduce malaria cases and deaths by at least 90 per cent by 2030. “We’re far from having completed the job,” said Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of WHO’s malaria department. “The hardest is yet to come.” Dr Alonso added that the gains could be hurt by a lack of funding, which had stagnated in the last six years.

In the report, WHO has also expressed concern about the quality of data: the report said surveillance systems catch fewer than 20 percent of cases. The vast majority cases are in Africa. About 70 percent of deaths are in children under the age of five.

Chris Drakeley, director of the malaria centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that even the incremental drop in malaria cases was significant. He noted that new approaches to fighting malaria like giving out medicines to children during high season to prevent infections were proving effective.

Other experts said WHO should rethink its priorities when it comes to malaria spending. “They’re looking at innovative ideas and investing in new tools like vaccines but they’re missing the basics,” said Sophie Harman, a public health expert at Queen Mary University in London. Ms. Harman also questioned whether WHO’s latest 2030 goal was realistic. “It has symbolic meaning that WHO is still committed to this,” she said. “But probably nobody in public health thinks this is really achievable.”