Updates on Malaria Epidemiology and Prevention Strategies

Area of Science:

• * Global health
• * Infectious diseases
• * Parasitology

Background:

• * Recent years have seen significant shifts in malaria epidemiology, marked by an increase in global cases and mortality, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• * Concerns are rising due to the spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium species into new regions and the increasing prevalence of parasites with deletions in the pfhrp2/3 genes.
• * The performance of newly implemented malaria control strategies, including vaccination in endemic areas, is under active evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To present an updated review of global malaria epidemiology.
• * To identify the current distribution and impact of diverse Plasmodium species.
• * To summarize recent advancements in malaria intervention and prevention tools.

Main Methods:

• * Comprehensive literature review of recent malaria epidemiology studies.
• * Analysis of global and non-endemic area data on Plasmodium species distribution.
• * Synthesis of information on implemented intervention and prevention tools.

Main Results:

• * Global malaria cases and deaths increased in 2020-2021, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• * Emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium and pfhrp2/3 gene-deleted parasites noted.
• * Vaccination strategies are being implemented and evaluated in endemic regions.

Conclusions:

• * Effective malaria control in endemic areas is crucial to prevent imported cases and re-establishment of transmission in malaria-free regions.
• * Enhanced surveillance and genetic analysis of Plasmodium species are vital for future diagnosis and treatment.
• * Strengthening integrated One Health approaches is recommended for robust malaria control.