News outlets discuss the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2014, which was released on Tuesday.

BBC News: Halving of malaria deaths ‘tremendous achievement’
“Global efforts have halved the number of people dying from malaria — a tremendous achievement, the World Health Organization says. It says between 2001 and 2013, 4.3 million deaths were averted, 3.9 million of which were children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa…” (Roberts, 12/8).

Bloomberg News: Malaria 2014 Deaths May Top 20,000 in Ebola-Hit Nations
“…An estimated 6.6 million cases of malaria and 20,000 deaths from the disease affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in 2013, the Geneva-based WHO said in a report today. This year, as most clinics that aren’t treating Ebola patients remain closed and people fear contracting the disease at health facilities in general, malaria cases aren’t being treated and the situation there is worsening, according to Pedro Alonso, head of the WHO’s Global Malaria Program…” (Kitamura, 12/8).

Deutsche Welle: WHO: Malaria deaths halved since 2000
“…The dramatic fall in fatalities is due to more people being diagnosed, treated and getting bed nets, said the WHO. ‘These are truly unprecedented results and phenomenal news in terms of global health,’ said Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO’s global malaria program, who attributed the progress in large part to increasing financial and political commitment, in particular regional efforts to work together to eliminate the disease…” (12/9).

The Guardian: Malaria is in retreat despite fears of insecticide resistance
“…In its annual World Malaria Report, the World Health Organization (WHO) hails the gains but calls for a redoubling of efforts to fight the mosquito-borne illness, which infected 198 million people last year and killed an estimated 584,000…” (Jones, 12/8).

New York Times: Malaria Scourge Has Declined Globally, but Ebola May Affect Toll, WHO Says
“…In its World Malaria Report 2014, the WHO said the malaria mortality rate fell by 47 percent worldwide and by 54 percent in the Africa region between 2000 and 2013…” (Gladstone, 12/8).

Reuters: Malaria death rates fall, Ebola threatens W. Africa progress
“…WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said in a statement the data showed the fight against malaria could be won because ‘we have the right tools and our defenses are working’…” (Kelland, 12/8).

WHO: Scale-up in effective malaria control dramatically reduces deaths
“…Globally, an increasing number of countries are moving towards malaria elimination, and many regional groups are setting ambitious elimination targets, the most recent being a declaration at the East Asia Summit to eliminate malaria from the Asia-Pacific by 2030…” (12/9).