WHO Says One-Third Of Malaria Cases Will Be Eradicated In 10 Years

The World Health Organization on Monday announced that they are one step closer to eliminating one-third of all worldwide malaria cases over the next 10 years.

According to the agency one-third of the 108 countries who are experiencing a malaria endemic are working hard to eradicate the disease within their borders.

Robert Newman, director of the WHO’s Global Malaria Program, told international Malaria Forum conference attendees in Seattle:

“Better diagnostic testing and surveillance has provided a clearer picture of where we are on the ground — and has shown that there are countries eliminating malaria in all endemic regions of the world.”

Eradicating malaria is important because 3.3 billion people around the world are at risk of contracting the disease while the parasite killed 781,000 people in 2009 with most victims found in Africa.

Along with hopeful progress numbers Monday’s conference revealed that seven countries have recently eliminated malaria while working to stop future cases from re-appearing.

With international funding rising from $100 million in 2003 to $1.5 billion in 2010 it looks like the fight to end malaria is moving in the right direction.

Are you surprised with the progress the World Health Organization and other agencies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have made in fighting the malaria parasite.