Malaria Day in the Americas 2024

On Malaria Day in the Americas 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging everyone in the fight against Malaria to join forces to expand access to diagnosis and treatment to accelerate elimination.

The PAHO stated on November 6, 2924, "Expanding access to malaria diagnosis and treatment without barriers" is a call to develop actions so that malaria treatment is within the reach of communities without geographic or financial barriers.

While the WHO African Region shoulders the heaviest burden of malaria outbreaks, the PAHO estimates 41 million people live in 21 areas in the Region of the Americas where the risk of infection by mosquito-carrying Malaria is considered moderate to high.

In 2023, countries in the Americas reported 505,000 cases of Malaria, a 5% increase from 2022. Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela report the most malaria cases in the Americas.

In 2022, 481,788 cases of Malaria and around 92 deaths were reported by the PAHO in 2022. 

While the increase in transmission is concerning, PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa stated in a press release that with accelerated efforts, "this disease can be eliminated in our Region."

In the United States, the CDC recently confirmed 1,610 travel-related malaria cases during 2024, mostly in international travelers arriving in New York City (220), Texas, Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California.

Last year, the CDC confirmed ten locally acquired malaria cases in the U.S.

Malaria is an acute febrile disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, and chills, which may be mild. Left untreated, Malaria can progress to severe illness and even death, says the WHO.

From a prevention perspective, two WHO-recommended malaria vaccines are available in Africa but not in the Americas.

In October, the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.'s R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine was awarded innovation of the year. The R21 vaccine also includes the Matrix-M adjuvant from Maryland-based Novavax Inc., which amplifies the immune response generated by the vaccine.