The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified China as a malaria-free country. The world’s second-largest economy has had to wait seven decades to be free of the mosquito-borne disease. NDTV news.
In the 1940s, 30 million people were infected with malaria in China each year. But in the last four years, no Chinese citizen has contracted malaria locally. That is why the country has been given this certificate.
“I congratulate the Chinese on being free of malaria,” said Tedros Adhanam Gabriasus, secretary-general of the World Health Organization. This success has been achieved with great difficulty. They have succeeded in decades of goals and continuous action. With this announcement, China has been included in the list of countries that have shown that a future free of malaria is a sustainable goal.
Countries that have been locally free of malaria for three consecutive years can apply to the World Health Organization for malaria-free status. In this case, they have to present strong evidence.
In addition, the ability to stay infection-free in the future should be highlighted.
China is the 40th country in the world to receive a malaria-free certificate from the Geneva-based health organization. El Salvador, Argentina, Paraguay and Uzbekistan have previously received this status.
