English

English > Current Affairs > Archive by region > Africa in depth

First global malaria survey for 40 years

By Gijs van den Heuvel*

03-03-2008

For the first time in 40 years, researchers have compiled an international malaria map. The Malaria Atlas Project or MAP, is designed to help identify populations at risk of developing malaria and predict the consequences of the disease. MAP contains information on more than 3100 communities in 79 countries.

Bob Snow Global incidence of malaria Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted via the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Around one million people die from the disease annually. About 40 percent of the world's population, mostly those living in the poorest countries, are at risk of contracting malaria. Of the 2.5 billion people at risk, more than 500 million become severely ill with malaria every year. Source: World Health Organisation, April 2007

Professor Bob Snow of the Kenya Medical Research Institute is the leader of the international research team that developed the atlas. A British charity, the Wellcome Trust supported the research and Professor Snow is glad that the geographic distribution of the disease has been mapped. It took the research team two years to gather the data. The old malaria atlas is more than 40 years old and was compiled by Russian researchers: "They drew up an impressive map of the worldwide incidence of malaria between 1900 and 1950".

The Malaria Atlas Project has drawn up information on the current situation in order to identify communities that are most at risk of contracting malaria. Accurate information about the incidence of malaria in a particular locale can also be used by aid organisations to assist them in deciding where to distribute anti-malarial drugs.

Population density
A high population density corresponds to a high incidence of malaria. Professor Snow says, "If we were to vastly increase the amount of money allocated to combating malaria, we could make enormous advances in three countries, Nigeria, India and Indonesia. In the Americas, Brazil is one of the countries high on the list of places where many people stand a high risk of contracting malaria".

Mosquito nets

Using a mosquito net

According to Professor Snow, the best way to prevent malaria is simple and doesn't cost a lot: "A mosquito net impregnated with an insecticide is the best solution. They're very cheap, if they're given away free and lots of people use them, they can cut the risk of contracting malaria by 50 percent. Mosquito nets can also reduce child mortality by 16 percent".

Until recently, donors were opposed distributing mosquito nets for free but Professor Snow says that attitude is beginning to change. More efficacious anti-malarial drugs have also been developed and the drugs increased effectiveness could reduce the number of deaths. "They're relatively cheap in comparison to drugs to treat bronchial infections, tuberculosis and HIV AIDS".

The Malaria Atlas Project has posted all the research data and a map on its website along with an application to view the results using Google Earth.

*RNW translation (jirc)

 

Tags: Africa, Bob Snow, malaria, mosquito

Reaction(s):

Sr Carmen Ssps, 30-03-2008 - Ghana

Mosquito nets are not very efficient in very hot areas, people don't sleep under them. Though the mosquito net is given free to all children below 5 years. The best will be to improve sanitation, so the water doesn't run through everywhere when rain comes.

---

jasmin, 04-03-2008 - India

Mosquito nets are a good preventive way but I am not sure about the insecticide on them. Even the mosquito repellants are hazardous too to the respiratory system especially of the kids. The best way in my opinion is not letting water stagnate as mosquitoes thrive in stagnated water and the Aedis egypti, the dengue mosquito thrives in fresh water. There should be awareness programs about this and the village ponds should have fish in them to eat the larvae.

---

Sandra, 04-03-2008 - Nederlands

The problem is: where do we donate to make sure it goes directly to the people and not to corrupt officials?

---

jasmin, 03-03-2008 - India

Mosquito nets are a good preventive way but I am not sure about the insecticide on them. Even the mosquito repellants are hazardous too to the respiratory system especially of the kids. The best way in my opinion is not letting water stagnate as mosqutoes thrive in stagnated water and the Aedis egypti, the dengue mosquito thrives in fresh water. There should be awareness programs about this and the village ponds should have fish in them to eat the larvae.

---

---

Copyright Radio Netherlands Worldwide 2009 Disclaimer