Malaria - the disease
The scale of the problem
Malaria remains the world’s most important parasitic infection in man.
Malaria represents a major threat to world health
- Approximately 40% of the world’s population live in countries where the disease is endemic and are at risk of malaria.
- 3.2 billion people around the world are at risk of malaria.
- Around 515 million episodes of P.falciparum malaria in 20022
- Each year more than 100 million deaths are caused by malaria
RBM/WHO 05, RBM/WHO BFM
As of 2004, 107 countries and territories reported that they had areas at risk of malaria transmission. Most of these are developing nations, and many have inadequate healthcare systems and poor economic conditions. Africa is the most badly affected continent. Of the more than 1 million Africans who die from malaria each year, the majority are children under 5 years of age.
Ninety per cent of deaths due to malaria occur in Africa south of the Sahara, mostly among young children. Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds. Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. Pregnant women and their unborn children are also particularly vulnerable to malaria, which is a major cause of perinatal mortality, low birth weight and maternal anaemia.4
