India sees 18% fall in malaria cases: WHO

United Nations, December 1

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India made “impressive gains” in the global fight against malaria, recording the largest reduction in cases in South-East Asia from 20 million in 2000 to about 5.6 million last year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The World Malaria Report, 2020, released on Monday, said in 2019 malaria cases globally numbered about 229 million.

Last year, the disease claimed about 4,09,000 lives, compared to 4,11,000 in 2018.

“Countries in South-East Asia made particularly strong progress, with reductions in cases and deaths of 73 per cent and 74 per cent, respectively. India contributed to the largest drop in cases region-wide — from 20 million to about six million,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Malaria cases reduced by 73 per cent in the region, from 23 million in 2000 to about 6.3 million in 2019. The WHO noted the “impressive gains” made by India in the fight against malaria, with reductions in cases and deaths of 18 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, over the last two years. — PTI