Morbidity and Mortality:

-       3 billion people at risk in 109 malarial countries

-       Another 2.1 people live in low-risk areas; these areas only account for 3% of malaria cases each year

-       250 million cases annually, with 1 million dead each year

-       Africa has largest number of people living in high-risk areas, South-East Asia is not far behind.

-       84% of all Africans live in at-risk areas, 91% of this population lives in high risk areas

-       The number of malaria cases officially reported is only expected to be 37% of estimated total global occurrence.

-       98% of all African cases are caused by P. falciparum

-       88% of reported deaths in Africa are those of children less than five years old

-       Only one-fifth of all malaria deaths were officially reported

-       P. falciparum was among the leading causes of death in 2004 from a single infectious agent

Disease Decline:

-       22 countries reported a decline of deaths greater than 50% between the six-year period between 2000 and 2006.

-       Eritrea, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe reported declines in deaths greater that 50% during this same period, the only countries in Africa to do so

Intervention Efforts:

-       Distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) has increased across Africa as well as coverage by long lasting insecticidal nets.

-       70% of nets are long-lasting insecticidal nets (as opposed to ITN’s); these last for up to 3 years

-       The at-risk population of 647 million African peoples received 26% coverage of ITNs in 2006, as compared with 3% in 2000

-       In 2006, 34% of all households in 18 African nations owned a mosquito net

-       The World Health Assembly established a goal of 80% coverage by bed nets in 2010; however, the world is not on target.

-       Predictions estimate only 23% of children and 27% of pregnant women are sleep under bed nets

-       Indoor insecticide spraying protected more than 100 million; 70 million in India, 22 million in Africa

-       Only 3% of sick children were given the more effective artemisinin treatment, despite an uptick in supply

-       18% of pregnant women received anti-malaria treatment to reduce risk for low birth rate of their children

Financial Support:

-       The World Health Organization’s African region reported a total spending of nearly $688 million on malaria control

-       Major funders: Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, bilateral organization and affected countries

All data cited from the World Health Organization, 2006 unless mentioned otherwise.