Question: Recently the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has declared which of the following region as malaria free region in the world?
(a) South America
(b) Europe
(c) South- East Asia
(d) United States Of America
Ans (b)
Related facts:
- On 20 April 2016 Europe has been declared as malaria free region by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.).
- According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), the number of malaria cases in Europe dropped from almost 91,000 in 1995 to zero last year.
- It’s a significant and symbolic achievement because Europe is the first region to eradicate the disease as part of a new UN-led strategy to wipe out malaria globally.
- Speaking ahead of World Malaria Day 2016 (on Monday, 25 April), WHO’s Dr Nedret Emiroglu warned that the continent will remain vulnerable until the disease is beaten globally.
- According to the latest estimates from WHO, there were 214 million new cases of malaria worldwide in 2015 and there were an estimated 438 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2015.
- It may be recalled that On 12 Feb. 2016 J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, launched the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030, which outlines India’s strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030.
- Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called “malaria vectors.”
- Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts can dramatically reduce the malaria burden in many places.
Reference:
http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2016/04/from-over-90-000-cases-to-zero-in-two-decades-the-european-region-is-malaria-free
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2016/04/europe-declared-malaria-free-but-still-vulnerable/#.VxixsEx97IV
http://www.who.int/campaigns/malaria-day/2016/en/