The public health challenge posed by
malaria
Malaria transmission occurs in all six WHO regions. Globally, an
estimated 3.3 billion people in 97 countries and territories are at risk of being
infected with malaria and developing disease (Figure 1.1), and 1.2 billion are
at high risk (>1 in 1000 chance of getting malaria in a year). According to
the latest estimates, 198 million cases of malaria occurred globally in 2013
(uncertainty range 124–283 million) and the disease led to 584 000 deaths
(uncertainty range 367 000–755 000), representing a decrease in malaria
case incidence and mortality rates of 30% and 47% since 2000, respectively.
The burden is heaviest in the WHO African Region, where an estimated 90%
of all malaria deaths occur, and in children aged under 5 years, who account
for 78% of all deaths.