This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34260339
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Malaria: '700 million cases' stopped in Africa | |
(34 minutes later) | |
Nearly 700 million cases of malaria have been prevented in Africa as a result of concerted efforts to tackle the disease since 2000, a study shows. | Nearly 700 million cases of malaria have been prevented in Africa as a result of concerted efforts to tackle the disease since 2000, a study shows. |
The report published in the journal Nature showed that overall the number of infections fell by 50% across the continent. | The report published in the journal Nature showed that overall the number of infections fell by 50% across the continent. |
Bed nets were responsible for the vast majority of the decrease. | Bed nets were responsible for the vast majority of the decrease. |
There have also been calls to maintain funding to ensure the progress is not undone. | There have also been calls to maintain funding to ensure the progress is not undone. |
The researchers from the University of Oxford analysed data from 30,000 sites in sub-Saharan Africa to estimate that 663 million cases were prevented over the past 15 years. | The researchers from the University of Oxford analysed data from 30,000 sites in sub-Saharan Africa to estimate that 663 million cases were prevented over the past 15 years. |
One of the researchers, Dr Samir Bhatt, told the BBC News website: "It's just phenomenal. | One of the researchers, Dr Samir Bhatt, told the BBC News website: "It's just phenomenal. |
"Just by putting in these interventions you've managed to save all these cases, 700 million is a huge number and that's the reality of what happened and that's why it's such an optimistic message." | "Just by putting in these interventions you've managed to save all these cases, 700 million is a huge number and that's the reality of what happened and that's why it's such an optimistic message." |
But despite the progress, the job is far from done. A child still dies from malaria every minute in Africa. | But despite the progress, the job is far from done. A child still dies from malaria every minute in Africa. |
The rate of improvement is also slowing - cases were falling by 9% a year up to 2011 but that has since fallen to 5%. | The rate of improvement is also slowing - cases were falling by 9% a year up to 2011 but that has since fallen to 5%. |
Dr Bhatt added: "We need to really be careful that we don't start reducing the number of interventions and keep driving forwards. We need to keep redoubling efforts." | Dr Bhatt added: "We need to really be careful that we don't start reducing the number of interventions and keep driving forwards. We need to keep redoubling efforts." |
Drug resistance is also a worry. Dr Bhatt describes mosquitoes being able to shrug off the effects of some insecticides as an "absolutely huge" issue in Africa. | Drug resistance is also a worry. Dr Bhatt describes mosquitoes being able to shrug off the effects of some insecticides as an "absolutely huge" issue in Africa. |
Meanwhile, resistance to the drug artemisinin has been detected in south-east Asia and would seriously hamper efforts to control the disease if resistance spread to Africa. | Meanwhile, resistance to the drug artemisinin has been detected in south-east Asia and would seriously hamper efforts to control the disease if resistance spread to Africa. |
Eight African countries are aiming to eliminate the disease by 2020 including Namibia. | Eight African countries are aiming to eliminate the disease by 2020 including Namibia. |
The country's former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi, whose brother died from malaria, said there had been a "drastic reduction" in cases in his country. | The country's former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi, whose brother died from malaria, said there had been a "drastic reduction" in cases in his country. |
He warned that any cuts to funding "would be very unfortunate". | He warned that any cuts to funding "would be very unfortunate". |
He told the BBC News website: "I have seen some countries where elimination was almost in sight and when they stopped indoor spraying we have seen resurgence. | He told the BBC News website: "I have seen some countries where elimination was almost in sight and when they stopped indoor spraying we have seen resurgence. |
"I want to emphasise to big funders and government [the need] to keep up their support." | "I want to emphasise to big funders and government [the need] to keep up their support." |