Malaria control guidance in Ebola-affected countries
1 December 2014
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have a high burden of malaria and together saw an estimated 6.6 million malaria cases and 20,000 deaths in 2013. WHO has issued guidance on temporary malaria control measures during the Ebola outbreak.
Malaria is a prevalent cause of febrile illnesses in areas with high transmission, and its clinical presentation overlaps with initial signs of Ebola disease. For this reason, the effectiveness of the Ebola response in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone can be optimized through the deployment of targeted measures to reduce the number of fever cases due to malaria.
WHO recommends specific adaptations in the diagnosis of malaria and in LLIN distribution in countries heavily affected by the Ebola outbreak and mass drug administration using artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in areas where transmission of both Ebola and malaria is high and access to malaria treatment is very low.
This guidance note has been prepared by WHO Headquarters and the WHO Regional Office for Africa, in coordination with US CDC, UNICEF and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance.
Photo: Ebola in West Africa. Credit: European Commission DG ECHO
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