Malaria: global challenges for malaria eradication

Theenormousdecline in theannualmorbidity andmortality frommalaria is the spectacular global public health success of the past decade. This achievement results largely from increased finance for investment in measures known to prevent malaria: bednets treated with long-lasting insecticides, chemoprophylaxis, and rapid access to effective treatment.Suchhasbeenthesuccessof thesemeasures thatplans are being put in place to achieve the vision of a malaria-free world within the next three decades. Large financial and political commitments and ongoing research will be required to maintain the gains, overcome known and unknown challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance, and to achieve those goals. Effective vaccines ormethods for reducingmosquito vectorial capacity would add enormously to the chance of achieving this goal. The aim of this article is to summarise the current status of malaria control, the recent research successes, the challenges being addressed, and the plan for progress to elimination of malaria in the longer term.