The WHO defines malaria elimination as the interruption of local transmission of a specified malaria parasite species in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate activities; and it says that continued measures to prevent re-establishment of transmission are required.
The Who defines malaria eradication as the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by human malaria parasites as a result of deliberate efforts; it also says that once eradication has been achieved, intervention measures would no longer be needed.
Key points of countries that have eliminated or eradicated malaria (e.g., China)
- support from the Government
- development of a plan of action to eliminate malaria by the national health service
- to include malaria education in the school curriculum
- reduce poverty
- improve the access to health care centres
- monitoring and evaluate the progress
- to have medicines based on artemisinin
- to have mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide (surveillance of vector resistance)
- to have diagnostic testing made available
- cooperation and collaboration between border towns