How Can Malaria Cases and Deaths Be Reduced?
The goal of most current National Malaria Control Programs and most malaria activities is to reduce the number of malaria-related cases and deaths. To reduce malaria transmission to a level where it is no longer a public health problem is the goal of what is called malaria "control."
"Control" of malaria differs from "elimination" or "eradication of malaria." "Elimination" is local or regional in scope. Eradication is "global elimination." Eradication is not achieved until malaria is gone from the natural world. These terms can be defined differently for different illnesses.
Recent increases in resources, political will, and commitment have led to discussion of the possibility of malaria elimination and, ultimately, eradication.
Malaria Treatment and Prevention Interventions
Malaria control is carried out through the following malaria treatment and prevention interventions. The choice of interventions depends on the malaria transmission level in the area (e.g., in areas of low transmission level, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women [IPTp] is usually not recommended).
- Case management (diagnosis and treatment) of patients with malaria
- Prevention
In most malaria-endemic countries, the above interventions comprise the essential package of malaria interventions---case management (diagnosis and treatment), ITNs, IPTp, and IRS.
Occasionally, other interventions are used:
- Larval control and other vector control interventions
- Mass drug administration and Mass fever treatment
In addition, several companies and groups are at work on developing a malaria vaccine, but there is currently no effective malaria vaccine on the market.
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Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
MS A-06
Atlanta, GA 30333 - Health care providers needing assistance with diagnosis or management of suspected cases of malaria should call the CDC Malaria Hotline:
770-488-7788 or 855-856-4713 toll-free
(M-F, 9am-5pm, eastern time). - Emergency consultation after hours, call:
770-488-7100
and request to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician. - malaria@cdc.gov
