Algeria and Argentina malaria-free
In May, the World Health Organization announced that malaria has been eliminated from Algeria and Argentina, an important milestone in fighting the mosquito-borne disease.
Malaria had been making a comeback globally, but the WHO said there were now 38 countries and territories that have been declared free of the disease. ‘Algeria has shown the rest of Africa that malaria can be beaten through country leadership, bold action, sound investment and science. The rest of the continent can learn from this experience,’ said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa.
Meanwhile Nigeria – the last country in Africa to have cases of wild polio, most recently in 2016 – is likely to be certified polio-free in 2020. If this is confirmed, it would mean all African countries are free of endemic polio.
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