Relegating malaria resurgences to history

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Malaria mortality rates have decreased significantly globally and in the WHO African Region over the past decade.
• Recent progress in malaria control is potentially fragile and at risk of reversal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively describe malaria resurgences over the past 80 years.
• To identify the primary drivers of malaria resurgence.
• To emphasize the critical need for sustained financial investment in malaria control programs.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical data on malaria resurgences over an 80-year period.
• Analysis of factors contributing to the weakening of malaria control programs.
• Assessment of current funding gaps and requirements for malaria control.

Main Results:

• The vast majority of malaria resurgences were linked to weakened control programs, predominantly due to resource constraints.
• Financial limitations, rather than biological factors, pose the greatest threat to current malaria control efforts.
• Current funding falls significantly short of the estimated annual requirement of nearly $6 billion.

Conclusions:

• Sustained and increased financial investment is essential to maintain and expand life-saving malaria prevention and control tools.
• Domestic and external funding, including support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, is critical to fill the funding gap.
• Without adequate investment, the gains made in malaria control are at risk of being lost, potentially leading to resurgences.