19 countries nearing elimination of malaria - WHO

The World Health Organization has revealed that 19 countries are nearing elimination of malaria. The organization said the respective countries had reduced malaria transmission to very low levels and re-oriented their malaria programme activities. 


It said the 19 countries are currently classified as being in the “pre-elimination or elimination phase”. It stated further that seven more countries have reduced transmission to zero and are in the “prevention of re-introduction phase”.

In recent years, the WHO Director-General has certified four countries malaria-free: the United Arab Emirates (2007), Morocco (2010), Turkmenistan (2010) and Armenia (2011). 

World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO Member States during the 2007 World Health Assembly. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria control and elimination. The theme for the 2013-2015 campaign is: "Invest in the future. Defeat malaria." 

There were an estimated 207 million cases of malaria in 2012, causing over 600 000 deaths. Malaria transmission occurs in 97 countries and territories around the world, inflicting the heaviest toll on countries of sub-Saharan Africa.