Lessons learned from malaria: Italy's past and sub-Sahara's future

No longer a major public health concern in developed countries, malaria kills 1–3 million people annually, mostly children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1998, the WHO launched the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) drive to halve malaria mortality by 2010. This article contrasts the problems...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & place 2005-03, Vol.11 (1), p.67-73
Main Authors: Amorosa, Louis F., Corbellini, Gilberto, Coluzzi, Mario
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa South of the Sahara - epidemiology
Anopheles gambiae
Bonification
Child, Preschool
Endemic stability
Health technology assessment
Humans
Italy - epidemiology
Malaria - epidemiology
Malaria - mortality
Malaria - prevention & control
Naturally acquired immunity
Plasmodium falciprum
Public Health
Roll Back Malaria
World Health Organization - organization & administration
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Summary:No longer a major public health concern in developed countries, malaria kills 1–3 million people annually, mostly children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1998, the WHO launched the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) drive to halve malaria mortality by 2010. This article contrasts the problems confronting RBM with the successful Italian drive to eradicate malaria between the late 19th and mid 20th centuries. The Italians employed education and applied socio-political will; however, ecological and socio-economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa are more hospitable to the disease. RBM strategies should consider the Italian experience while awaiting a major scientific breakthrough necessary to achieve success.
ISSN:1353-8292
1873-2054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2004.06.003