India Shows Progress Amid Global Malaria Increase UPSC

WORLD MALARIA REPORT

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Context: The World Malaria Report's findings about India showcase a positive trend in India's fight against malaria, contrasting with global trends of increasing cases and deaths due to the disease.

Key Findings of the report

India's Success Factors

Primary Healthcare Focus: Emphasis on providing primary healthcare to remote areas, ensuring access to healthcare services even in distant regions.
Improved Surveillance: Leveraging digital data for better surveillance, enabling real-time monitoring of cases and facilitating targeted interventions.
Handling Extreme Weather Events: Effective management of extreme weather events like cyclones, which historically have been linked to increased malaria incidence. States like Odisha, prone to such events, have improved preparedness.
Preventive Practices & Tools: Implementation of preventive practices, utilization of tools like insecticide mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs, and point-of-care tests for quick diagnosis.
Urbanization Impact: Urbanization reduces mosquito breeding grounds, thereby lowering malaria incidence in urban areas.

Key Takeaways:

●India achieved a significant 30% decline in malaria cases and a 34% decline in deaths in 2022 compared to 2021.

●India’s performance is opposite to the global trend, which saw 5 million additional cases in 2022, reaching a total of 249 million.

●Pakistan contributed the highest increase (2.1 million) due to widespread flooding.

●India currently accounts for only 1.4% of global malaria cases.

Climate change poses a considerable threat to malaria control efforts:

Geographical Expansion: Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns create new habitats suitable for malaria transmission, potentially expanding its reach, especially in areas like the Himalayan belt.
Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency of extreme events like floods creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading to surges in malaria cases, as seen in Pakistan after a severe flood.

Need for Enhanced Surveillance

As malaria cases decrease, finding and treating scattered cases becomes more challenging. Improved surveillance systems and real-time digital data are vital for identifying and addressing these dispersed cases effectively. Real-time data aids local administrations in planning interventions more efficiently.

Challenges Ahead

Resistance to drugs and insecticides, along with genetic alterations in parasites, pose significant challenges to malaria control efforts.
Vivax malaria, accounting for a substantial portion of cases in India, presents a challenge due to its ability to hide in the liver and cause recurrent infections. Completing the required treatment becomes a challenge as patients often stop medication once they feel better.

To achieve the goal of malaria elimination by 2030 and sustain progress:

Strengthening surveillance systems.
Tailoring interventions based on localized data.
Addressing resistance issues through updated policies and adopting new tools aligned with WHO guidance.

Malaria

●Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. These tiny creatures inject the parasites into bloodstream, kickstarting the infection.

●Five different Plasmodium parasite species can cause malaria in humans: falciparum, vivax, ovale, malaria, and knowlesi. Each has its characteristics and can cause varying degrees of illness.

●The hallmark symptom of malaria is cyclical fever, often accompanied by chills, sweating, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. These typically occur 10-15 days after the bite but can take up to a year to appear.

●If left untreated, especially falciparum malaria, the infection can progress to severe complications like organ failure, coma, and even death. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent such outcomes.

●Despite its devastating impact, malaria is preventable and curable. The World Health Organization, along with other organizations and researchers, are working tirelessly to develop new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics, with the ultimate goal of eliminating this disease for good.

Conclusion

India's success in malaria control is attributed to a combination of healthcare infrastructure, technological advancements, and strategic interventions. However, persistent challenges like resistance and vivax malaria necessitate ongoing adaptation and innovation in approaches to meet the elimination targets.

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MALARIA: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/malaria-2

PRACTICE QUESTION

India, a country with diverse geographical features and climates, faces a significant challenge in controlling malaria. As a public health officer tasked with malaria control strategies, you are devising a plan to reduce malaria cases in a specific region. The region experiences seasonal outbreaks of malaria, predominantly due to Plasmodium falciparum. Your plan aims to implement effective control measures to curb the spread of the disease.

Q. Which of the following control measures is most effective for preventing the transmission of malaria in the given region?

A) Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides

B) Distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets

C) Vaccination campaigns against malaria

D) Health education programs in schools

Answer: A

Explanation:

A) Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides is an effective strategy to target malaria vectors. Spraying insecticides on the interior walls of houses in high-risk areas significantly reduces the population of mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite, thereby lowering transmission rates.

B) Distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets is also a preventive measure, especially in areas with high mosquito density. The nets provide a physical barrier against mosquito bites and, when treated with insecticide, further reduce the chances of transmission during sleep.

C) Vaccination campaigns against malaria are still under development and are not currently part of the primary preventive measures against malaria. While research on malaria vaccines is ongoing, no highly effective vaccine is widely available for routine use as of now.

D) Health education programs in schools are crucial for raising awareness about malaria prevention and control. Educating communities about the importance of using bed nets, eliminating mosquito breeding sites, and seeking timely medical care upon symptom onset contribute significantly to control efforts.