There were an estimated 247 million malaria cases among 3.3 billion people at risk in 2006, causing nearly a million deaths, mostly of children under 5 years. 109 countries were endemic for malaria in 2008, 45 within the WHO African region. (World malaria report, 2008, World Health Organization)

Malaria is a debilitating and deadly disease transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. This mosquito carries malarial parasites which multiply within the infected person and attack red blood cells. The result is fever, disrupted heart-rhythm and all too frequently, death.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death and disease around the world, especially in the developing world.

Malaria is a preventable and treatable infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes that kills more than one million people each year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is the leading cause of death for children under five

A mosquito bites an infected human and ingests malarial parasites which it retains in its saliva. The mosquito then goes on to bite another human and the mosquito’s saliva, now containing a colony of parasites, enters the bloodstream. Infection then spreads exponentially, infecting first hundreds then hundreds of thousands, and soon it can reach a point where it becomes endemic and increasingly more difficult to eradicate.

Malaria is both a root cause and consequence of poverty; it puts a heavy economic burden on endemic countries and contributes to the cycle of poverty

Because malaria is a global emergency that affects mostly poor women and children, malaria perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty in the developing world.

Malaria related-illnesses and mortality cost Africa’s economy alone USD $ 12 billion per year, a loss of 1.3% of GDP growth per year and accounts for over 10% of yearly household spending in Africa

Today, malaria can be prevented, diagnosed and treated with a combination of available tools and sustained financing

Global estimates indicate that USD $ 5.3 billion is needed each year to fully fund the fight against malaria

While the costs of fighting malaria are not low, the benefits are significant.

A comprehensive approach consisting of protective nets, indoor spraying with insecticide, preventive treatment for pregnant women, diagnostic tests, effective drugs, education, research and advocacy is needed to combat malaria and those are the area of World Action Group's focus