Today’s map comes from the Hot-Off-The-Presses 2014 World Malaria Report by the World Health Organization. It shows how malaria mortality rates have changed since 2000.
With the exception of a small piece of northern South America, malaria deaths have declined worldwide–in some places, dramatically so. In all, the report shows that malaria incidence dropped 30% globally, and by 34% in Africa. And in that same time period, malaria mortality rates declined by 47% worldwide and by 54% in Africa. That latter data point is particularly impressive because since 2000, there has been a 43% increase in the the number of Africans living in malaria transmission zones.
In other words, more people than ever are living in malaria endemic regions; and fewer people than ever are dying from malaria. A massive scaling up of malaria prevention and treatment since the advent of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 is having a positive effect. Humanity deserves a pat on the back for this one.
Read the full report.