Malaria

As recently as the 1930s, millions of people in the southern U.S. were at risk for malaria infection every year. But beginning in 1947, the newly formed Communicable Disease Center—now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC—began an aggressive campaign to eliminate the disease from the U.S. Thanks mostly to draining swamps, putting screens in windows and spraying the insecticide known as DDT, the U.S. became malaria-free in 1951.

In 1955, the World Health Organization initiated a plan to eradicate malaria globally. Unfortunately, the effort was not successful, as mosquitoes evolved resistance to DDT and the parasites became resistant to the medicines used. Lessons learned from that campaign, however, continue to inform anti-malaria efforts today—including the importance of involving local communities and integrating programs with ongoing public health initiatives.

What are the world’s most dangerous animals? Some would say mosquitoes, because of their role in spreading human disease. Mosquitoes and other biting insects can serve as “vectors”—organisms that transmit disease-causing agents from one person or animal to another. And of all the mosquito-borne illnesses, malaria is the most deadly, killing more than a half-million people—mostly children—every year. One way to combat malaria is to attack the vectors that carry it.

Bed nets treated with insecticide create a physical barrier against mosquitoes and can kill the insects on contact. Spray insecticides are effective as well—but mosquitoes can become resistant, so safe, new insecticides must constantly be developed.

Malaria cases have fallen by 25% worldwide since the year 2000. Bed nets and insecticides have a lot to do with this trend; improvements in diagnosis and treatment are also a big part of the success. New diagnostic tests can identify the presence of malaria in a matter of minutes. And artemisinin-based combination drug therapies blend the effects of different medications to counter the parasite’s growing drug resistance.

Development of new interventions may lead to even greater success in the future. Researchers are making progress on new vaccines, better diagnostics, and improved insecticides. Scientists are also exploring more innovative approaches, like genetically engineered mosquitoes that will no longer be able to transmit the parasite.

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