After three years without local malaria transmission, the WHO will consider Cape Verde’s application for certification of elimination and, if successful, it will be the third time. In the past, failure to ensure vector control measures led to disease resurgences after certification was granted in 1968 and again in 1983. Read more. Coinciding with World Malaria Day on Apr 25, which had the theme ‘Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria’, a number of endemic countries have published their malaria report cards: Namibia recorded a substantial reduction in cases (and deaths) from 2017 to 2019, however an increase was recorded in 2020; Zambia saw malaria cases rise from 5.3 million in 2019 to 7.6 million in 2020; In Pakistan around 60 per cent of the population (or 123 million people) are at high risk for malaria and it kills 50,000 every year; and in the Americas, the PAHO has called for urgent measures to keep Belize on track for malaria elimination in 2022. In other news on malaria, there has been good news on the vaccine front, with promising findings from a Phase IIb trial of the candidate vaccine R21/Matrix-M on 450 children in Burkina Faso. After 12 months of follow-up, vaccine efficacy was rated at 77 percent, over and above the WHO’s goal of 75 percent. Read more
Advice for travellers
Travelvax recommends that travellers visiting malarious regions discuss their itinerary and the possible need for anti-malaria medication during a pre-travel medical consultation. More on malaria.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.