CDC Debuts New Malaria Web Site to Observe Africa Malaria Day, April 25, 2004

In observance of Africa Malaria Day on April 25, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will launch a new Web site with updated information on global and domestic malaria prevention and control (www.cdc.gov/malaria) today, Friday, April 23, 2004. Approximately 1 million malaria deaths occur annually worldwide. About 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, where every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria.

"Malaria remains one of the world's most serious reemerging infectious diseases, causing suffering and death for millions each year," said Dr. James Hughes, director of CDC's infectious disease program. "CDC is heavily involved in global malaria efforts, working with many partners to find new ways to prevent and control the disease in endemic countries and to ensure that American travelers and other at-risk individuals have the information they need to protect themselves."

CDC was created in 1946 to fight malaria in the United States. Nearly 60 years later, CDC participates actively in the worldwide battle against malaria abroad and at home, where reintroduction of the disease by travelers arriving or returning from malaria-endemic countries is a constant threat.

Features of the new malaria Web site include:

-- How to prevent and control malaria in the United States and abroad

-- Facts and figures on the impact of malaria

-- CDC malaria activities nationally and globally

-- Interactive training using clinical and epidemiologic case studies

-- Malaria treatment information for U.S. clinicians

-- Expanded information on malaria for travelers

-- Malaria's biology, epidemiology, geographic distribution, and health impact

-- Extensive list of references and resources

Additional information about Africa Malaria Day is available at http://www.afro.who.int/amd2004/ and http://rbm.who.int.

Source: CDC