[Status of World Malaria in 2021 (2022 World Malaria Report)]

Malaria is an acute febrile disease transmitted through the bite of Anopheles spp. infected with Plasmodium spp. protozoa. This disease occurs mostly in tropical regions. Five species of malaria can infect humans, Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax, and P. knowlesi, of which P. falciparum and P. vivax are known to be the most important parasites for human. P. falciparum is most prevalent in Africa, while P. vivax is most prevalent in Southeast and Western Pacific Asia. P. malariae and P. ovale occur in parts of Africa, while P. knowlesi occurs only in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. P. falciparum accounts for the most malaria deaths, whereas P. vivax presents a lower mortality risk rate than P. falciparum. According to the 2022 World Malaria Report by World Health Organization (WHO), it was the number of infected cases and malaria-related deaths in 2021 were estimated to be 247 million and 619,000, respectively. Regionally, the most cases in 2021 occurred in the African Region (95%) including Nigeria (26.6%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.3%), Uganda (5.1%), Mozambique (4.1%), Angola (3.4%), and Burkina Faso (3.3%). Furthermore, children under the age of 5 accounted for 76% of all malaria deaths. Belize and Cabo Verde reported zero malaria cases for the third consecutive year, and many other countries are also moving towards malaria elimination. Paraguay, Argentina, and El Salvador were certified malaria free in 2018, 2019, and 2021, respectively. The Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has been striving to maintain a high level of diagnostic and surveillance capacities, while collaborating with international and national agencies to control and eliminate malaria.