219 million cases, 435,000 deaths: For a long time, the number of malaria infections has been continuously decreasing, and now it is rising again. For the second year in a row, the World Health Organization (WHO) registered more malaria cases in 2017 than in the previous year. Without more efforts, the successes of recent years threatened to be destroyed, warned WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday.

There is an urgent need to increase funding for the fight against malaria. "The fact that every two minutes a child dies from this preventable and curable disease is unacceptable."

"Massive wake-up call"

The number of malaria cases recorded rose by over two million in 2017 to 219 million cases in 2017, according to the WHO World Malaria Report. About 90 percent of all illnesses were in Africa. The number of deaths fell slightly from 451,000 in 2016 to 435,000 in 2017. Among the victims were around 266,000 infants up to five years.

For the period 2010-2015, WHO has made good progress every year in the fight against malaria. However, case numbers have returned since 2016, especially in the most affected African countries such as Nigeria, Mozambique and the Congo.

This is a "massive wake up call," Tedros said. WHO announced an initiative to better target the most affected countries. Around 70 percent of malaria cases affect eleven countries: Nigeria, Congo, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Uganda, Tanzania and India.

Fight against epidemicsThe programmed death

Malaria is transmitted through bites from Anopheles mosquitoes that carry the pathogen. They sting especially at night. The pathogens - so-called plasmodia - enter the bloodstream and multiply in the liver. The most severe form in Africa, the malaria tropica, is caused by the pathogen Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria causes fever, anemia and neurological problems. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal.

Poverty remains the main problem

Despite the high risk of malaria in the affected areas of Africa, according to WHO, in 2017 only about half of the population slept under an insecticide-treated mosquito net - the most important protection measure against malaria. In addition, still too few pregnant women would have access to prophylactic drugs.

According to the WHO, international spending on malaria reduction in 2017 was about $ 3.1 billion. To achieve the goal of reducing the number of malaria diseases and deaths by 90 percent by 2030, at least $ 6.6 billion a year is needed, according to the WHO.

If the countries concerned and the international community step up their efforts, malaria can be defeated, Tedros said. "I am confident that we will win the battle against this centuries-old disease and come back to our shared vision: a world without malaria."

These countries are making progress

Some countries have made good progress in fighting malaria in 2017 according to the WHO. In Ethiopia, Rwanda, India and Pakistan, for example, the number of illnesses had dropped significantly. This is because the countries have taken targeted protective measures in recent years. For example, in Indian cities such as Calcutta, authorities spray gasses that kill mosquitoes. This significantly reduces the risk of infection.

By contrast, Nigeria recorded the largest increase with about 1.3 million additional cases. The West African state has the most malaria diseases worldwide, followed by the Congo. The fight against the disease is particularly difficult in these countries because of poverty, a poor health system and poor infrastructure.

So far, there is no nationwide malaria vaccine. There are prophylactic medications that are often taken by travelers. They also do not provide 100% protection. The best prevention is protection against mosquito bites. About half of the world's population live in malaria risk areas, according to the WHO. In affluent Asia and Latin America, prophylaxis and medical treatment are much better than in Africa.