Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile 13 December
2011 | Geneva - Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than
25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the WHO African Region,
according to the World malaria report 2011, issued today by WHO.
This is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria
prevention and control measures in the last decade, including
the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider
availability of effective medicines to treat malaria. However,
WHO warns that a projected shortfall in funding threatens the
fragile gains and that the double challenge of emerging drug and
insecticide resistance needs to be proactively addressed.
Malaria incidence and mortality rates fall "We are making
significant progress in battling a major public health problem.
Coverage of at-risk populations with malaria prevention and
control measures increased again in 2010, and resulted in a
further decline in estimated malaria cases and deaths," says Dr
Margaret Chan, WHO Director-G