Daily Current Affairs : 4-December-2023
The recently published World Malaria Report brings encouraging news about India’s strides in reducing malaria cases and deaths. In 2022, the country witnessed a substantial 30% decline in malaria incidence and a 34% decrease in mortality compared to the previous year.
Global Context:
Globally, the fight against malaria has seen fluctuations, with a decrease from 2000 to 2019, a spike in 2020, stability in 2021, and another rise in 2022 to a total of 249 million cases. Alarmingly, deaths due to malaria persistently remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Status of Malaria in India:
While India has made remarkable progress with an 85.1% decline in cases and an 83.36% drop in deaths from 2015 to 2022, it still bears a substantial burden. In 2021, India accounted for 1.7% of global malaria cases and 1.2% of deaths, mainly concentrated in tribal and remote areas. Six states and tribal regions contribute to 90% of the disease burden.
Key Takeaways:
India’s success is evident with a 30% reduction in cases and a 34% decline in deaths in 2022. The global scenario witnessed an additional 5 million cases, with Pakistan contributing the highest (2.1 million). India represented 1.4% of total global malaria cases.
Factors Behind India’s Success:
India’s success story in combating malaria can be attributed to several factors, including:
- Focus on providing primary healthcare in remote areas
- Surveillance backed by digital data
- Effective management of extreme weather events
- Implementation of preventive practices
- Use of tools to control mosquito populations
- Utilization of point-of-care tests for quick diagnosis
- Efficient management of malaria cases
Understanding Malaria:
Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, is transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in the liver, infecting red blood cells and endangering the host. Types of malaria include Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Climate Change and Malaria:
The World Malaria Report, for the first time, emphasizes the link between climate change and malaria. The sensitivity of the malaria parasite and mosquito to temperature, humidity, and rainfall can increase disease prevalence. Climate change may directly expand malaria-prone areas and indirectly hinder healthcare accessibility and timely treatment.
Challenges:
India faces biological threats such as drug and insecticide resistance and gene deletions in parasites, complicating diagnosis. Vivax malaria, constituting over 40% of cases, poses a unique challenge due to its ability to hide in the liver and cause recurrent infections. The necessity for a 14-day treatment course presents compliance challenges as many stop medication once they feel better.
Important Points:
- India’s Malaria Progress (2022):
- 30% decline in malaria cases
- 34% reduction in mortality
- 1.4% of total global malaria cases
- Global Malaria Trends:
- Global cases: 249 million in 2022
- Persistent increase in deaths compared to pre-pandemic levels
- India’s Malaria Status:
- 85.1% decline in cases (2015-2022)
- 83.36% decrease in deaths (2015-2022)
- 1.7% of global cases, 1.2% of global deaths (2021)
- Concentrated in tribal and remote areas
- Six states and tribal regions contribute to 90% of the disease burden
- Factors Behind India’s Success:
- Focus on primary healthcare in remote areas
- Digital data-backed surveillance
- Efficient handling of extreme weather events
- Implementation of preventive practices
- Use of tools to control mosquito populations
- Point-of-care tests for quick diagnosis
- Effective management of malaria cases
- Understanding Malaria:
- Caused by Plasmodium parasites
- Transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes
- Types: falciparum, vivax, malariae, ovale, knowlesi
- Climate Change and Malaria:
- First-time focus on climate change in the World Malaria Report
- Sensitivity of parasites and mosquitoes to temperature, humidity, and rainfall
- Climate change can expand malaria-prone areas and hinder healthcare accessibility
- Challenges:
- Biological threats: drug resistance, insecticide resistance, gene deletions
- Challenge of vivax malaria (40% of cases)
- Hides in the liver, causing recurrent infections
- 14-day treatment course poses compliance challenges
Why In News
The recently released World Malaria Report shows that the number of cases and deaths due to the mosquito-borne infection in India have continued to decline, reflecting the positive impact of ongoing public health initiatives; however, sustained efforts are crucial to further reduce the burden of malaria and achieve long-term success in combating the disease.
MCQs about Navigating Malaria in India
-
What was India’s achievement in malaria control in 2022?
A. 20% decline in cases
B. 34% reduction in mortality
C. 5% increase in global cases
D. 50% decrease in deaths
-
Which region remained on track to achieve the 2030 target of reducing malaria cases and deaths by 90%?
A. WHO European region
B. WHO African region
C. WHO South East Asian region
D. WHO Western Pacific region
-
Why is vivax malaria a unique challenge?
A. It is drug-resistant
B. It hides in the liver causing recurrent infections
C. It is transmitted by a different mosquito species
D. It has a higher mortality rate
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