The following is a summary of blog posts addressing the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2013, released Wednesday.

• John Kerry, State Department’s “DipNote” blog: The report “confirms what many of us have long believed: we’re knocking on the door of doing what many fifteen years ago deemed impossible. The bottom line: we can beat malaria, one of the most intransigent diseases on the planet,” U.S. Secretary of State Kerry writes. “By bringing together governments, business leaders, philanthropists, donor agencies and citizens in malaria endemic countries to end deaths from this preventable and treatable disease, we’re making tremendous, unparalleled progress,” he states, adding, “The last mile is the toughest and we have to remain committed” (12/11).
• Alan Magill, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimists” blog: “The report also offers a warning: to truly defeat the disease, we cannot afford to let our guard down,” Magill, director of the Gates Foundation’s malaria program, writes. “Efforts made toward fighting malaria have saved millions of lives, yet malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest killers,” he states, adding, “The foundation is committed to working with partners to expand access to lifesaving prevention and treatment, and to promoting innovative strategies that will accelerate us toward eradication” (12/11).