La Organización Mundial de la Salud calcula que la mitad de la población mundial corre el riesgo de contraer la malaria. El año pasado, 243 millones de personas presentaron malaria clínica (86% en África), con casi 863.000 muertes (89% en África, la mayor parte de ellos, niños).

A malaria surveillance system consists of the tools, procedures, people and structures that generate information on malaria cases and deaths, which can be used for planning, monitoring and evaluating malaria control programmes.

The aim of the elimination phase is to stop local transmission of malaria, in contrast to the control phase, in which the objective is to reduce the number of cases to low levels but not necessarily interrupt local transmission.

Esta estrategia se justifica dada la variedad de escenarios eco-epidemiológicos en los que ocurre la transmisión de malaria en la región de las Américas, lo que determina diferencias en la dinámica de transmisión y de los condicionantes de la efectividad de las acciones de control vectorial, y constituye un reto para la planificación costo - efectiva de intervenciones. La Estrategia promueve por lo tanto priorizar los recursos disponibles para realizar intervenciones con calidad y sostenibilidad en las localidades – focos que determinan la mayor carga de enfermedad – concentración de casos, implementar procesos de análisis para la adecuada selección de las intervenciones y evaluar su efectividad e impacto.

The document outlines the content to be included and the key considerations to be taken into account when developing a national insecticide resistance monitoring and management plan. The guidance given is not intended to be rigid and prescriptive; rather, it is designed to offer countries a framework that ensures adherence to the objectives and recommendations of the Global plan for insecticide resistance management in malaria vectors.

Management in malaria vectors (GPIRM) is a call to action. Through this document, WHO and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership call on governments of malaria-endemic countries, donor organizations, UN agencies, as well as research and industry partners, to implement a five-pillar strategy to tackle the growing threat of insecticide resistance and to facilitate the development of innovative vector control tools and strategies. 

The interagency field handbook was developed to set out effective malaria control responses in humanitarian emergencies, particularly during the acute phase when reliance on international humanitarian assistance is greatest. This second edition represents a thorough updating and revision of the first edition. The structure remains similar, but includes an additional chapter on humanitarian coordination.

Early, rapid diagnosis of malaria is gaining increasing importance in health programmes in endemic countries in response to increasing drug costs and recognition of the importance of early, correct treatment to the reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality.

Malaria continues to be a major global health problem, with over 40% of the world's population-more than 3.3 billion people-at risk for malaria to varying degrees in countries with on-going transmission. In addition, with modern, rapid means of travel, large numbers of people from nonmalarious areas are being infected, which may seriously affect them after they have returned home.

Achieving adequate concentrations of antimalarial drugs in the blood is pivotal to curing malaria. Accurate measurement of drug concentrations is essential to ensure optimal dosing of the currently available and newly introduced antimalarial drugs and for differentiating inadequate exposure to a drug from true resistance to the drug.

The purpose of this document is to help those involved in planning, promoting and implementing insecticide-treated netting (ITN) programmes make systematic decisions about how to target public funds effectively. It is based on a week of intensive dialogue-reflecting field experiences in 12 African countries-at a workshop on Mapping models for targeted ITN subsidies.

The aim of this interagency manual is to provide policy, strategy, technical and operational guidance to countries wishing to strengthen or set up routine malaria diagnostic services. These services include the use of both microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) at all levels for the management of febrile patients by health workers and are integrated within other national programmes for strengthening laboratory services.

WHO recommendations on the use of pesticides in public health are valid ONLY if linked to WHO specifications for their quality control.