Malaria can and should be eradicated by 2050, experts say

In a new report, public health experts and biologists say that malaria can and should be eradicated within a generation. Already, more than half of the world’s countries are malaria-free, and malaria deaths have steadily declined by 60% since 2000. Still, the authors of the new report write that eradication is “a goal of epic proportions,” and outline strategies to get to reach it by 2050. They emphasize better management of the eradication strategies already at countries’ disposal. At the same time, the report’s authors also call for better vaccines and diagnostics to control spread of the disease. Lastly, the experts suggest an annual increase of $2 billion in global spending will help malaria go in the way of other diseases, including the now-eradicated smallpox virus.

Correction: Friday’s item on gender disparity among science faculty incorrectly described how many women held various roles at institutions included in the survey. It found that 40% of assistant professors are women, a third of associate professors are women, and about a quarter of full professors are women.