Cambodia Achieves a Remarkable 74% Reduction in Malaria Cases in 2024: Health Official
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Phnom Penh, Jan 3 (NationPress) Cambodia has experienced a 74% reduction in malaria cases in 2024, demonstrating substantial progress in the battle against this disease, a health official stated on Friday.
Huy Rekol, Director of the National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, reported that malaria incidents in the Southeast Asian nation decreased dramatically from 1,384 cases in 2023 to a mere 355 cases in 2024.
"It is fantastic to learn about the exceptional strides Cambodia has made in lowering malaria cases this year. Such progress is truly commendable," he remarked.
"Additionally, Cambodia has registered no fatalities since 2018 and has not reported any local cases of Plasmodium Falciparum since January 2024," he continued.
Rekol attributed this success to enhancements in surveillance responses, heightened public awareness, and the accessibility of essential tools, such as malaria testing kits, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and anti-malarial medications.
He emphasized that the dedication of healthcare workers and government initiatives, along with effective malaria diagnostics and treatments like Artesunate-Mefloquine (ASMQ), played a crucial role in this achievement, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"This accomplishment places Cambodia among countries that are effectively eliminating malaria," Rekol noted. "With ongoing vigilance, Cambodia aims to eradicate malaria cases by 2025."
Malaria is a severe disease caused by a parasite, transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, and chills, typically appearing 10–15 days following the bite. Additional symptoms can encompass vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, rapid breathing, fast heart rate, and cough.
Malaria predominantly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions across the Americas, Asia, and Africa. The term 'malaria' originates from the Medieval Italian phrase mala aria, meaning "bad air".
It is prevalent in hot and humid tropical areas. In 2020, approximately 241 million cases of malaria were reported worldwide, resulting in 627,000 fatalities. Most cases are concentrated in Africa and South Asia.
