WHO: "Africa May Have More Deaths from Malaria than COVID-19"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on the 30th (local time) that the number of deaths from malaria in Africa will exceed those from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to foreign media, the WHO stated in its latest malaria report that last year, there were about 409,000 deaths worldwide from malaria transmitted by mosquitoes, most of whom were infants in the poorest regions of Africa.

Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Malaria Program, told reporters, "Depending on the degree of disruption to malaria prevention services caused by COVID-19, an additional 20,000 to 100,000 deaths are expected in sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom will be young children."

He added, "It is highly likely that excess deaths from malaria will exceed the direct deaths caused by COVID-19."

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of the 29th, there have been about 50,000 COVID-19 deaths and approximately 2.16 million cumulative confirmed cases. The WHO report states that global malaria infections in 2019 were 229 million, consistent with the levels of the past four years.