WHO declares Sri Lanka malaria-free
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared Sri Lanka a malaria-free, after certifying that the life-threatening disease had been completely eliminated in the island.
With this, Sri Lanka became second country in the South-East Asia Region declared as malaria after Maldives by the WHO.
Key Facts
- The announcement in this regard was made at the 69th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region held in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka.
- Besides, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and the Ministry of Public Health of South Korea were conferred the ‘Excellence in Public Health’ awards for “their remarkable and sustained role in the public health gains” of their countries by the WHO South-East Asia Region.
- Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease most commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
- It caused by parasitic protozoans (a group of single-celled microorganisms) belonging to the Plasmodium type.
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Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016