A Preventable Yet Deadly Disease: An Analysis of Differential Methods to Control Malaria in Regions of High Prevalence

Abstract

Insect-borne diseases contribute to high death rates, especially in developing nations around the world. Malaria is one such disease that causes thousands of deaths annually despite being a preventable and curable disease. Malaria is transmitted through the female Anopheles mosquito and there are four major types of Plasmodium parasite species that can cause the disease in humans. It is prevalent in regions such as the Americas, South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. It is important to analyze the methods of controlling the vector and the parasite in the regions where malaria is most prevalent so that the ultimate goal of eliminating the disease can be achieved. The most widely used vector control methods include indoor residual spraying of insecticides and the use of insecticide treated bed nets. The parasite is mainly controlled with the use of antimalarial medicines to treat the infection. While there is a need for more consistent data to be able to understand the effectiveness of the interventions on malaria so that the most efficacious control method can be established, in 51 out of 95 countries analyzed, a reduction has been observed, or is projected to be observed, in malaria case incidence.