China officially obtains malaria elimination certification, WHO: a remarkable feat

On June 30, the World Health Organization issued a press release stating that China has officially obtained the WHO malaria elimination certification

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated China on the elimination of malaria in a press release

The World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Regional Director Kasai Ken said: “China’s unremitting efforts to achieve this important milestone show that strong political commitments and strengthening of the national health system can overcome the major public health challenge of malaria

According to WHO's standards, a country or region has no local malaria cases for three consecutive years, and an effective malaria rapid detection and monitoring system is established, and a malaria prevention and control plan is formulated to obtain malaria elimination certification

The WHO also detailed China's practices and experience in eliminating malaria in the press release

In addition, China has established a national malaria and other infectious disease network reporting system and a malaria laboratory testing network, improved the malaria vector monitoring and malaria resistance monitoring system, and formulated the work strategy of "tracking clues, counting and pulling out the source", and explored and concluded The "1-3-7" work model for malaria reporting, investigation and disposal and the "3+1 line of defense" in border areas

Pedro Alonso, director of the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Program, spoke highly of China's achievements and experience in eliminating malaria

According to data from WHO, in 2019, there were approximately 229 million malaria cases worldwide and 409,000 deaths