Will We See the Eradication of Malaria this Century?
Malaria is still a worldwide threat – despite a cure, it’s still present in 108 countries.
Too often, in the Western World, we forget that just because malaria was eliminated in the U.S. and most of Europe by the 1970s, there are large swaths of the world where it not only is not under control, but it is endemic. Malaria hasn’t been eliminated from even half the nations of the world as yet.
Worse, in Africa, malaria claims the life of a child every 45 seconds and causes about 20 percent of all child deaths. And though mortality figures have been dropping over the past decade, the number of people infected has remained relatively stable. While that’s partial good news, even better would be to see those infection rates dropping.
Insecticide-soaked mosquito nets has helped cut down on mortality rates, and a vaccine has been making its way through approval processes.
Will the 21st Century see the end of malaria? Only time will tell. This infographic from Assay Depot looks at the stats behind the scourge. (Click through for a larger version.)
