Infectious disease: Malaria mapped out

Main Category: Tropical Diseases
Article Date: 14 Mar 2005 - 14:00 PDT

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The number of malaria cases might be double that previously estimated, researchers report in this week's Nature. They have created a global map of malaria distribution, which could help to advise funding agencies and better allocate aid and prevention efforts.

Public health workers have so far lacked a reliable estimate of the global burden of malarial infection. Using a combination of epidemiological, geographical and demographic data, Robert Snow and his co-workers estimate that there were 515 million clinical episodes of malaria in 2002. The figures are up to 50% higher than those estimated by the World Health Organization, and 200% higher for areas outside Africa, reflecting reliance on passive reporting of disease.

Nature press release for 10 March issue (pp 214-217)

Reference URL
http://www.nature.com/nature
SOURCE: alphagalileo.org

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