News

New estimates of malaria deaths: concern and opportunity

None | 03 Feb 2012 | The Lancet

This week we publish surprising and, on the face of it, disturbing findings. According to Christopher Murray and colleagues at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle, there were 1·24 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 0·93—1·69 million) from malaria worldwide in 2010—around twice the figure of 655 000 estimated by WHO for the same year.

Malaria deaths hugely underestimated - Lancet study

Neil Bowdler | 02 Feb 2012 | BBC News

Worldwide malaria deaths may be almost twice as high as previously estimated, a study reports.

The research, published in the British medical journal the Lancet, suggests 1.24 million people died from the mosquito-borne disease in 2010.

This compares to a World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate for 2010 of 655,000 deaths.

But both the new study and the WHO indicate global death rates are now falling.

The research was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It used new data and new computer modelling to build a historical database for malaria between 1980 and 2010.

The conclusion was that worldwide deaths had risen from 995,000 in 1980 to a peak of 1.82 million in 2004, before falling to 1.24 million in 2010.

The rise in malaria deaths up to 2004 is attributed to a growth in populations at risk of malaria, while the decline since 2004 is attributed to "a rapid scaling up of malaria control in Africa", supported by international donors.

While most deaths were among young children and in Africa, the researchers noted a higher proportion of deaths among older children and adults than previously estimated. In total, 433,000 more deaths occurred among children over five and adults in 2010 than in the WHO estimate.

New Chief Unveils Plan to Revive Disease-Fighting Fund

Betsy McKay | 30 Jan 2012 | Wall Street Journal

The new chief of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria plans a major overhaul of operations following an assessment urging improved management. The assessment came after disclosures of misused funds and a slowdown in global donations.

Malaria's Defeat, Africa's Future

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf | 29 Jan 2012 | The Huffington Post

Africa is taking command of its future by tackling an ancient plague: malaria. Supported by the lessons learned from the decade to "roll back malaria," which produced a 33 percent decline in malaria deaths in Africa between 2000 and 2010, 41 African presidents have now signed on to end deaths from the disease in their home countries as part of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA).

Embattled global health fund director resigns in face of financial pressures

None | 24 Jan 2012 | Associated Press

The head of the $22.6 billion Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has abruptly resigned, part of a shakeup in its top management since revelations about corruption and misspending severely rattled some of its biggest donors.

Fake malaria drugs could 'put millions at risk'

None | 16 Jan 2012 | BBC News

Fake and poor quality anti-malarial drugs are threatening efforts to control the disease in Africa and could put millions of lives at risk, scientists say. The counterfeit medicines could harm patients and promote drug resistance among malaria parasites, warns the study, funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Affordable malaria medicines: When will Nigerians begin to benefit?

Chioma Obinna | 15 Jan 2012 | Vanguard

Little Nkem was the joy of her parents who were childless for over 15 years before her birth. From the date of her birth, Nkem was adored as the princess of the house. Her parents never ceased to thank God each day that breaks. But little did they know that their joy will be short lived.

WHO and Margaret Chan: the next 5 years

None | 14 Jan 2012 | The Lancet

WHO is in the process of appointing a Director-General whose tenure will run from June, 2012, to June, 2017. Margaret Chan, the current incumbent, is the only candidate standing. WHO's Executive Board will consider her appointment when they meet later this month, and the World Health Assembly will ratify the Board's decision in May.

WHO misses malaria goal, but still aims for 'near zero' deaths by end of 2015

Maria Cheng | 13 Dec 2011 | Associated Press

Health officials hope to virtually eliminate malaria deaths in the next few years — despite having failed to meet an earlier goal of cutting the disease's incidence in half by 2010. In a report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization, experts said they only managed to reduce malaria by 17 per cent since 2000.

PCB but not DDE linked to lower birth weight in European studies

Aimin Chen & Wendy Hessler | 09 Dec 2011 | Environmental Health News

A question nagging researchers is closer to being answered by a large-scale reanalysis of European data. The study finds that exposure during pregnancy to now-banned persistent chemicals may affect fetal growth and reduce birth weight of newborns. The study presents compelling evidence that indicts the industrial chemicals PCBs while finding no link to the pesticide metabolite DDE.