Malaria at a Glance

Description

Malaria is endemic to the poorest countries in the world, causing 300 to 500 million clinical cases and more than one million deaths each year. More than 90% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (approximately 3,000 deaths each day), and almost all the deaths are children younger than 5. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 15% of all disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) are lost to malaria. In highly endemic countries, malaria during pregnancy is a leading cause of low birth weight, one of the primary causes of neonatal mortality. Women living in endemic countries are four times more likely to have symptomatic malaria attacks when they are pregnant.