Today (April 25), the world commemorates World Malaria Day to highlight the need for global efforts to tackle the spread of the disease.

Malaria is a zoonotic disease transmitted by an infected Anoploes mosquito to humans through previous contact with an infected person.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 619,000 malaria deaths in 2021 and 247 million new malaria cases.

Malaria disease is most prevalent on the African continent. In 2021, Malaria in the African region 95 per cent of Malaria cases and 96 per cent of deaths. This growing health crisis on the African content prompted world health leaders to declare World Malaria Day in 2007 at the 60th session of the World General Assembly.

Jamaica is a non-endemic country to malaria. In 2006, Jamaica saw an outbreak of malaria in communities in Kingston. The country recorded 280 cases of malaria between November 6, 2006, to February 3, 2007, due to the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum on the island.

Since then, the country has managed to prevent the reintroduction of malaria on the island through public health surveillance and by identifying imported cases on the island.

This year, World Malaria Day is being observed under the theme: Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement.

According to WHO, in order to limit the spread of malaria globally, countries need to rethink and revitalize their strategies by investing, innovating and implementing smartly.

This includes increasing funding for malaria intervention through primary healthcare, increasing the number and effectiveness of control tools and strategies, and ensuring the effective implementation of malaria control strategies.

At-risk groups

There are some persons who are more at risk of contracting the life-threatening disease than others. These persons include children under the age of five, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS and non-immune migrants.

Signs and symptoms

• Fever
• flu-like illness
• headache
• muscle pain
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea

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