WHO Says Cambodia on Track to Reach Zero Malaria Deaths

Eight Cambodians have died from malaria so far this year, compared to 37 in the same period last year, a drop of about 80 percent and a sign that the country could soon reach the goal of zero malaria deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday. “I think we are going towards zero malaria deaths,” WHO spokesman Sonny Krishnan said, adding that the distribution of bednets is still the most simple and effective way to decrease the incidence of the disease, which is caused by a parasite transmitted through mosquitoes. … More than 3 million bednets have been distributed in Cambodia since 2010, 2 million of them last year, leading to a dramatic drop to 33,769 cases as of October this year compared to 59,668 for the same period last year, Mr. Krishnan said. This represents a decrease of about 45 percent. … Almost half of Cambodia’s population lives in areas classified as high-malaria risk, which include parts of Battambang, Kompong Speu, Pursat, Preah Vihear, Mondolkiri, Ratanakkiri, Pailin and Siem Reap provinces, according to the Mekong Malaria Program. … In 2007, health workers detected malaria resistance to the Artemisinin-based Combination Treatment—the drug therapy used to treat malaria—along the Thai-Cambodian border. Since then, the WHO has tried to keep the drug-resistant strain from spreading across borders, which could have disastrous effects if it reaches Africa, where the majority of malaria cases and deaths occur. …

 Denise Hruby
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/who-says-cambodia-on-track-to-reach-zero-malaria-deaths-49149/