Global trends in the burden of malaria: Contemporary diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies

Abstract

Malaria continues to pose a significant global health challenge, with 247 million cases reported in 2021, primarily concentrated in African countries. Despite substantial progress in reducing malaria cases and deaths over the past two decades, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems, resulting in a temporary increase in cases and deaths in 2020. Nevertheless, between 2000 and 2021, an estimated 2 billion malaria cases and 11.7 million deaths were averted, with the majority occurring in the WHO African Region. Accurate diagnosis remains pivotal for effective malaria treatment, and various diagnostic methods have been employed, each with its own limitations. The effectiveness of these methods varies across different populations and environments. To combat the resurgence of malaria and the limitations of current interventions, there is a growing need for new technologies and integrated diagnosis and treatment. This paper reviews global trends in the burden of malaria; contemporary diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies.