UNITED NATIONS: The number of people dying from malaria globally has fallen dramatically with more and more countries moving towards its elimination, a newly-released World Health Organisation report said on Tuesday.

However, findings also underscored the gains made were at particular risk in Ebola-affected countries.

“We can win the fight against malaria,” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO at the launch of the World Malaria report 2014.

“We have the right tools and our defences are working. But we still need to get those tools to a lot more people if we are to make these gains sustainable.”

Access to accurate malaria diagnostic testing and effective treatment of the life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to peoplethrough the bites of infected mosquitoes has also significantly improved worldwide, it said.

Published in Dawn December 10th , 2014