The control of tropical diseases and socioeconomic development (with special reference to malaria and its control)

Malaria, as the most important and widespread of the tropical diseases, is taken as representative of the approaches to their control and the perception of their influence in socioeconomic development. An analysis is presented of the evolution of the main policy orientations for malaria control, since the discovery of mosquito transmission, identifying a quasi cyclical alternance between expectations to interrupt transmission and eliminate the parasite, and more modest approaches to minimize the effects of the infection, which cannot be eradicated, except under rather special circumstances. These apparent cycles have nevertheless yielded a wealth of experience which the current global strategy of malaria control tries to assimilate, recognizing the interdependence of socioeconomic sustainable development and malaria control.