<p>Cape Verde has achieved a decisive victory against malaria by&nbsp;becoming the third African Nation to rid itself of the disease. This is a substantial victory especially given that the mosquito-borne disease continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people on the continent, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.</p>

<h2><strong>Malaria-Free nations</strong></h2>

<p>Worldwide, only 43 nations have been certified as malaria-free by the WHO. For this certification, a nation needs to prove that the domestic chain of transmission has been broken for at least three consecutive years, reports AFP.</p>

<p>On the African continent, before Cape Verde, Mauritius in 1973 and Algeria in 2019, were declared malaria-free.</p>

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<p>Acknowledging the achievement of the Atlantic archipelago of about 500,000 inhabitants, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "I salute the government and people of Cabo Verde for their unwavering commitment and resilience in their journey to eliminating malaria."</p>

<p>"WHO's certification of Cabo Verde being malaria-free is testament to the power of strategic public health planning, collaboration, and sustained effort to protect and promote health," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Climate change effects on spread of malaria</strong></p>

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<p>The WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti also expressed happiness and said, "Cabo Verde's achievement is a beacon of hope for the African Region and beyond. It demonstrates that with strong political will, effective policies, community engagement and multi-sectoral collaboration, malaria elimination is an achievable goal."</p>

<p>Stressing the advantages this certification will have for Cape Verde, WHO said that it "has the potential to attract more visitors and boost socio-economic activities in a country where tourism accounts for approximately 25 per cent of GDP."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-men-continue-to-disappoint-their-wives-most-women-say-husbands-dont-do-enough-around-home-679350">Japanese men continue to disappoint their wives; most women say husbands don't do 'enough' around home</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Malaria</strong></h2>

<p>As per WHO estimates, in 2022, malaria killed 608,000 people worldwide and infected 250 million.</p>

<p>The disease, as per AFP, is particularly present in Africa. In 2021, the nation accounted for 95 per cent of deaths and 94 per cent of contaminations. Furthermore, on the continent, children under five represented 80 per cent of the deaths.</p>

<p>Cape Verde went through its last malaria peak in the late 1980s. Since then, it has been confined to two islands: Santiago and Boa Vista. Both the islands have now been malaria-free since 2017.</p>

<p>In 2007, eliminating malaria became a national objective for Cape Verde, and subsequently, it came up with a strategic malaria plan from 2009 to 2013.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Cape Verde has achieved a decisive victory against malaria by becoming the third African Nation to rid itself of the disease. This is a substantial victory especially given that the mosquito-borne disease continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people on the continent, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.

Cape Verde has achieved a decisive victory against malaria by becoming the third African Nation to rid itself of the disease. This is a substantial victory especially given that the mosquito-borne disease continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people on the continent, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday. Malaria-Free nations Worldwide, only 43 nations have been certified as malaria-free by the WHO. For this certification, a nation needs to prove that the domestic chain of transmission has been broken for at least three consecutive years, reports AFP. On the African continent, before Cape Verde, Mauritius in 1973 and Algeria in 2019, were declared malaria-free. Also read | Biden's 'defensive action' against Houthis in Yemen earns him Democratic ire and trolling on X Acknowledging the achievement of the Atlantic archipelago of about 500,000 inhabitants, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "I salute the government and people of Cabo Verde for their unwavering commitment and resilience in their journey to eliminating malaria." "WHO's certification of Cabo Verde being malaria-free is testament to the power of strategic public health planning, collaboration, and sustained effort to protect and promote health," he added. Watch | Climate change effects on spread of malaria × The WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti also expressed happiness and said, "Cabo Verde's achievement is a beacon of hope for the African Region and beyond. It demonstrates that with strong political will, effective policies, community engagement and multi-sectoral collaboration, malaria elimination is an achievable goal." Stressing the advantages this certification will have for Cape Verde, WHO said that it "has the potential to attract more visitors and boost socio-economic activities in a country where tourism accounts for approximately 25 per cent of GDP." Also read | Japanese men continue to disappoint their wives; most women say husbands don't do 'enough' around home Malaria As per WHO estimates, in 2022, malaria killed 608,000 people worldwide and infected 250 million. The disease, as per AFP, is particularly present in Africa. In 2021, the nation accounted for 95 per cent of deaths and 94 per cent of contaminations. Furthermore, on the continent, children under five represented 80 per cent of the deaths. Cape Verde went through its last malaria peak in the late 1980s. Since then, it has been confined to two islands: Santiago and Boa Vista. Both the islands have now been malaria-free since 2017. In 2007, eliminating malaria became a national objective for Cape Verde, and subsequently, it came up with a strategic malaria plan from 2009 to 2013. (With inputs from agencies)

Cape Verde becomes third African nation to be declared malaria-free

<p>An African scientist is working on a ‘gene drive technology’ that could potentially wipe out malaria or malaria-causing mosquitoes from the continent.</p>

<p>Abdoulaye Diabate, who was awarded the 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management for his research, is developing an innovative technique that can wipe out malaria-causing female mosquitoes by altering their genes.</p>

<h2><strong>What’s the technique?</strong></h2>

<p>Malaria is generally transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes, as male mosquitoes do not bite.</p>

<p>Under gene drive technology, female mosquitoes are prevented from producing new female offspring by releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes in the environment.</p>

<p>This would lead to the depletion of female mosquitoes, thus bringing down malaria causes throughout the continent.</p>

<p>“When the (gene-edited) mosquitoes are released in the field … they will spread across the entire mosquito population and cut malaria transmission right away,” the scientist from Burkina Faso was quoted as saying by CNN.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | Russia's Wagner group brings Putin a fortune from the African gold trade</strong></p>

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<p>“The genetically modified mosquitoes are the ones to do the job for you … unlike the other (malaria control) interventions where humans run from place to place to deliver,” he added.</p>

<p>He also said that the method was more sustainable as well as budget-friendly.</p>

<p>However, Abdoulaye Diabate said that the technology could still take many more years to be ready for rolling out.</p>

<h2><strong>Africa’s malaria problem</strong></h2>

<p>Africa shoulders the world’s largest malaria burden, with the continent constituting 96 per cent of the total 619,000 deaths worldwide in 2021.</p>

<p>According to the WHO’s latest data, of those 96 per cent, 80 per cent of deaths occurred in children aged under five.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-zulu-kings-coronation-deemed-unlawful-by-south-african-court-669233"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Explained | Zulu king`s coronation deemed unlawful by South African court</strong></a></p>

<p>According to Diabate, developing innovative malaria-controlling tools was the only way to deal with this menace.</p>

<p>“Although bed nets are doing a fantastic job … we now have widespread insecticide resistance in the different species of mosquitoes, specifically those that are transmitting malaria,” he was quoted as saying.</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the technology being touted as the promising one, health authorities around the world have pointed out ecological concerns that may emerge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some advocacy groups are vehemently opposing the technology, saying its impact on the ecosystem may never be predicted.</p>

<p>“Every living creature, even if it appears dangerous or harmful to humans, fulfills important tasks in its habitat. The extermination or even manipulation of a species will therefore have consequences for the entire ecosystem,” warned German-based advocacy group Save Our Seeds (SOS) on its website.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An African scientist is working on a ‘gene drive technology’ that could potentially wipe out malaria or malaria-causing mosquitoes from the continent. Abdoulaye Diabate, who was awarded the 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management for his research, is developing an innovative technique that can wipe out malaria-causing female mosquitoes by altering their genes.

An African scientist is working on a ‘gene drive technology’ that could potentially wipe out malaria or malaria-causing mosquitoes from the continent. Abdoulaye Diabate, who was awarded the 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management for his research, is developing an innovative technique that can wipe out malaria-causing female mosquitoes by altering their genes. What’s the technique? Malaria is generally transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes, as male mosquitoes do not bite. Under gene drive technology, female mosquitoes are prevented from producing new female offspring by releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes in the environment. This would lead to the depletion of female mosquitoes, thus bringing down malaria causes throughout the continent. “When the (gene-edited) mosquitoes are released in the field … they will spread across the entire mosquito population and cut malaria transmission right away,” the scientist from Burkina Faso was quoted as saying by CNN. Watch: Gravitas | Russia's Wagner group brings Putin a fortune from the African gold trade × “The genetically modified mosquitoes are the ones to do the job for you … unlike the other (malaria control) interventions where humans run from place to place to deliver,” he added. He also said that the method was more sustainable as well as budget-friendly. However, Abdoulaye Diabate said that the technology could still take many more years to be ready for rolling out. Africa’s malaria problem Africa shoulders the world’s largest malaria burden, with the continent constituting 96 per cent of the total 619,000 deaths worldwide in 2021. According to the WHO’s latest data, of those 96 per cent, 80 per cent of deaths occurred in children aged under five. Also read: Explained | Zulu king`s coronation deemed unlawful by South African court According to Diabate, developing innovative malaria-controlling tools was the only way to deal with this menace. “Although bed nets are doing a fantastic job … we now have widespread insecticide resistance in the different species of mosquitoes, specifically those that are transmitting malaria,” he was quoted as saying. Concerns Despite the technology being touted as the promising one, health authorities around the world have pointed out ecological concerns that may emerge. Some advocacy groups are vehemently opposing the technology, saying its impact on the ecosystem may never be predicted. “Every living creature, even if it appears dangerous or harmful to humans, fulfills important tasks in its habitat. The extermination or even manipulation of a species will therefore have consequences for the entire ecosystem,” warned German-based advocacy group Save Our Seeds (SOS) on its website. (With inputs from agencies)

African scientist develops ‘gene drive tech’ that could wipe out malaria from continent

2023 has been a decisive year in the fight against malaria. After 20 years of progress, malaria research has been at a standstill since 2020, but the deployment of the serums such as the rts,s, promises to turn the tide, at least for now. Many experts say it is time to end the killer disease once and for all, but how long will that take?

Long road of eradicating malaria in Africa