WHO Director calls malaria rates "Best" in decades (MedPageToday)

The number of cases of malaria and deaths fell in 2009 in the world, according to the report of the world 2010 health malaria.

Worldwide, 781,000 people died of malaria in 2009, compared to 985,000 in 2000, the Agency of the United Nations. The number of reported cases of the disease also fell, 225 million year last 244 million in 2005 and 233 million in 2000.

Another piece of good news of the who - protection against mosquitoes, and access to diagnosis and treatment for malaria increased markedly in 2009.

The results are "best seen in decades," said Margaret Chan, MD, Director-General WHO. In a statement, Chan noted that years of "deterioration and stagnation" ended so that affected "" countries and their development partners are now on the offensive. ""

The report shows that international support for the fight against malaria rose to a record in 2009, 1.5 billion (USD). But the report also notes that only $ 1.8 billion was pledged by 2010 - the less than 6 billion considers necessary for the year.

Report highlights strong who success: the number of nets nets delivered to sub-Saharan Africa have reached 289 million at the end of 2010, enough to protect the 76% estimates 756 million people at risk in the region.An approximately 42% of African households had at least a bed net and 35% of the children slept on a bed of suspected malaria net.35% confirmed diagnosis before treatment, tests increased less than 5% of suspected at the beginning of the end of 2009 decade.By, 11 African countries could use artemisinin-based combination therapies to treat cases of malaria in the public sector and five others were able to handle between 50% and 100% of these cases. (Coverage of treatment data are incomplete, said the Agency, as many are still private treaties).11 reduced African countries is confirmed malaria cases or malaria admissions and deaths of 50% in recent years, while the same was true of 32 of 56 countries outside the area where malaria is endemic.Two country - the Morocco and Turkmenistan - eliminated the disease, the region European for the first time, no malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, representing approximately 90% of malaria cases reported all the.

On the other hand, malaria makes a return in three countries in 2009, Rwanda, Sao Tome and principle and Zambia - well who stated reasons for the resurgence was not clear.

The report also suggests that some of the progress of disease may be fragile.

For example, life net insecticide-treated bed is about three years - so those delivered in 2006 and 2007 now need replacing. "Failure to replace these nets could lead to a resurgence of cases of malaria and death," said the report of the who.

Institution of the United Nations has also noted an increase in the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies, but added that monotherapies artemisinin-based - which could lead to resistance - even approved for sale in 25 countries and 39 pharmaceutical companies are still making.

So far, the Agency reported, there is no sign that "effective clinical and parasitological" combination therapies have been adversely affected.

WHO also noted that pyrethroid insecticides depends on control of mosquito infected with malaria - only class used to make the nets nets and the most commonly used for remnant Interior.

These widespread uses of pyrethroids, said the Agency "increases the risk that mosquitoes develop resistance, which could quickly lead to a major public health problem."