April 25 is World Malaria Day, commemorating the date in 2000 when 44 African leaders committed to cutting malaria deaths. Each year, malaria causes approximately 1 million deaths, most in young children in Africa. Recent increases in resources have led to lives saved and fewer illnesses and lost productivity, but more work is needed.

This year's World Malaria Day campaign theme is "Counting Malaria Out." The campaign calls on malaria-endemic countries, Roll Back Malaria partners, and donors to put extra efforts into tracking progress toward universal coverage and use of effective interventions by 2010, near-zero deaths by 2015, and the gradual elimination and eradication of malaria..

In recent years, many partners have stepped up efforts and joined together to scale up the use of lifesaving malaria interventions, especially in Africa.

In several countries where millions of life-saving interventions have been provided, fewer malaria-related illnesses and deaths are being reported. Important progress has been made, but access to and use of the interventions needs to increase dramatically to meet the Millennium Development Goals, according to WHO's World Malaria Report 2009.

CDC contributes to malaria control largely through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), a U.S. government initiative led by USAID and implemented jointly by USAID and CDC. PMI is now part of the new U.S. Global Health Initiative and is expanding activities for Africa-wide impact. PMI works in close collaboration with host ministries of health and other local and international and public and private partners. In addition, CDC conducts multidisciplinary research globally to understand malaria better and develop safe, effective interventions for its prevention and control.

How Can Malaria Be Prevented?

For people living in malaria-endemic areas, an integrated package of effective interventions?insecticide-treated bed nets, effective antimalarial drugs to treat malaria illness (artemisinin-based combination therapy), intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, and indoor residual spraying where appropriate?can significantly reduce the impact of malaria.

People traveling to malaria-endemic areas should consult their health provider and receive a prescription for the right antimalarial medication for their destination, as well as advice on how to prevent mosquito bites.

Is Malaria a Problem in the United States?

Although malaria was eliminated from the United States in 1951, approximately 1,500 travelers from the United States return with malaria each year. On average, five of these travelers will die from an infection that could have been prevented.