NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, February 26, 2016

Mosquito-borne parasites know no borders, as the Zika virus in Latin America has reminded us this year. While the impact of Zika is still being assessed, we know that malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people a year, most of them young children. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, and we are determined to end it.

We have to look past borders, just like infectious diseases do.

Our most effective weapon against malaria – building on preventive measures and rapid treatment – is strong partnerships that can constantly adapt to changing situations on the ground.

The Greater Mekong region in South East Asia is a lesson in how partnerships and new thinking can come together to confront global health risk. After years of careful investments, the malaria situation in the Greater Mekong region has improved dramatically, with sharp declines in cases and deaths. However, the region still faces huge challenges, with high transmission taking place along borders and in remote forests.