Who is at risk?
Some population groups are at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria, and developing severe disease, than others. These include infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as non-immune migrants, mobile populations and travellers.
Disease burden
Between 2000 and 2015, the under-5 malaria death rate fell by 65% globally, translating into an estimated 5.9 million child lives save.
Transmission
In most cases, malaria is transmitted through the bites of female Anophelesmosquitoes.
Prevention
WHO recommends protection for all people at risk of malaria with effective malaria vector control. Two forms of vector control insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying are effective in a wide range of circumstances.
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs)
In parallel, effective behaviour change communication strategies are required to ensure that all people at risk of malaria sleep under a LLIN every night, and that the net is properly maintained.
Indoor spraying with residual insecticides
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides is a powerful way to rapidly reduce malaria transmission.
Why is this an important issue for many tropical countries, such as Cambodia,Laos,Myanmar, and Thailand ?
Some of the world's richest, and many of its poorest, countries an located in the region. Some countries have almost no forests, while others have more than two-thirds of their land covered by forest vegetation. Most Asia-Pacific countries have experienced extremely rapid social and economic changes in recent years. While forest resources have helped to fuel the surging economic development, forests have also suffered greatly from the rapid changes. Expanding populations and greater wealth have increased demand for wood products, agricultural land, water, forest-based recreation and ecotourism, electricity from hydro-electric sources, and attractive industrial and residential sites.