This situation report is produced by the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) and Global Development One (GDO). It focuses on the malaria situation in Venezuela from January 2000 to June 2019, underscoring the role that the complex humanitarian crisis has played in more recent years. www.icaso.org
By Leopoldo Villegas and Mary Ann Torres
HIGHLIGHTS In the 1960s, Venezuela was the first country in the world that eliminated malaria in 70% of its territory. This achievement helped reshape the public health landscape of the country. The malaria morbidity and mortality rates are staggering. Between 2000 and 2018, there were 1.97 million cases reported – a 1260% increase, from 29,736 cases in 2000 to 404,924 in 2018. By June 2019, most federal entities in the country were reporting local malaria transmission. The situation is worsening with time, as several malaria-free areas have been reporting the re-introduction of the disease. There is a risk of a regional malaria outbreak