Venezuela reports most malaria since 1971

In 2016, the number of malaria cases in Venezuela ended up being around 200,000, the most seen in the South American country since 1971, according to a Efecto Cocuyo report (computer translated).

The numbers were provided by the director general of Health Miranda, Maggia Santi. The exact numbers were not available through official health and disease data as the Ministry of Health has not published a weekly Epidemiological Bulletin since mid-2015.

Malaria was reported from 17 of the 23 states in Venezuela. In addition, a number of diphtheria cases were reported in six states in the country. Diphtheria was not seen in 24 years prior.

According to Santi, the situation is due to “abandonment, ignorance and improvisation in malaria control programs and immunizations”.

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