Malaria and Epidemics

Malaria epidemics mostly occur in regions which are normally not exposed to the disease and therefore affect vulnerable populations with little or no immunity, including people living in highlands, arid and desert-fringe zones. In such situations, people of all age groups are at risk of suffering from severe malaria.

Consequently, epidemics can be devastating if not controlled quickly. Many epidemics occur in regions where health services are not well prepared and thus are unable to predict malaria and cure the disease rapidly. In the light of this, malaria epidemics can only be reduced with effective malaria control instruments and well prepared disease management strategies in place.