Many, particularly the most vulnerable, have only one chance of treatment. Bilateral donor agencies from the European Community, Belgium, France, Italy and the USA are also involved. Burundi has been fairly dry yet we still have an epidemic on our hands. More than one million Africans die of malaria every year - many of them in epidemics like Burundi. Young children and pregnant women with lower levels of immunity are usually the most likely to succumb to the disease in high transmission areas, however in epidemic prone areas all age groups are vulnerable.
People suffering from malaria can develop severe disease symptoms very rapidly.
Without treatment it can kill quickly often within 24 hours. The cost of one treatment in this case is less than US 20 cents. It was launched in 1998 and after an initial planning stage is now concentrating on massively increasing interventions to treat and prevent malaria in both stable and unstable situations. For further information, journalists can contact Office of the Spokesperson, WHO, Geneva.