Malaria UC Atlas of Global Inequality

"Today approximately 40% of the world’s population -- mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries -- is at risk of [contracting] malaria" (WHO, Roll Back Malaria 2002). Malaria is an infectious disease that is spread when a mosquito first bites an infected person, then bites another, transmitting the disease. Single-celled malaria parasites are able to evade the human immune system and infect the liver and red blood cells. The infection may be life threatening if left untreated or if the particular strain of parasites is resistant to conventional drug treatments (WHO, R.B.M. 2002).

What the Map Suggests

The map shows the pattern of malaria cases in the world. While a large portion of the world, especially the industrialized world, has no cases or an extremely low rate of incidence, Africa has a very high number of cases. In 2000 Niger had 469 cases per 100,000 people, while Mali 454, Angola 354 and Sierra Leone. East Asia and South America are also affected, but to a much lower degree.

African Children Suffer Most

Children are particularly susceptible and suffer the worst effects of the disease. This is especially true in Africa where a child will die every 30-40 seconds due to malaria (Sachs and Malany 2002; WHO, R.B.M. 2002). In some areas of sustained transmission, malaria accounts for about 25% of mortality in children aged 0 to 4 years (Sachs et al 2002).

The most deadly type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, is also the type most commonly found in Africa. Infections from P. falciparum can lead to severe Cerebral malaria, the most damaging type of malaria, particularly when it affects young lives (CDC 2001). Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria suffer from learning impairments or brain damage (WHO, R.B.M. 2002). These impairments include behavioral disorders, impaired intellectual functioning, and seizures. Cerebral malaria is also the most prevalent type of malaria in Africa with nearly 575,000 children infected every year, of which 10-40% die (Sachs et al 2002).

Worldwide there are 300 to 500 million infections every year, with at least one million deaths due to malaria, ninety percent of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa (Sachs et al 2002; WHO, R.B.M. 2002).

There is an association between income levels and rate of incidence. Countries with high rates of malaria often have high rates of poverty and low overall GDP/capita rates. As Sachs and Malany (2002) point out, malaria can also impact a country’s ability to compete in the global economy. Poor health can influence a country’s economic growth and development.

Global extent of malaria reduced in last 50 years

Global efforts have been mobilized to reduce the spread of malaria. As the map above shows (source: Sachs and Malany 2002) the spread of malaria has been narrowed and "confined to tropical regions" in the past 50 years. The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank have formed an alliance to combat malaria, called Roll Back Malaria (RBM). This program is providing help for those who are most in need, and promoting a global awareness of malaria. Their goal is to halve malaria cases by 2010.

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, "Malaria", 2001

Sachs, Jeffery, Pia Malaney 2002. "The Economic and Social Burden of Malaria." Nature 415: 680-85.

WHO, Roll Back Malaria, "What is Malaria", 2002

Created 5/27/2003