Iran 1st to eradicate malaria in eastern Mediterranean: Deputy Minister

'Iran is the only country whose decrease in malaria cases is progressing; and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Iran is the only country to decrease malaria cased by %40 percent until 2020,' said Ali-Reza Raeesi.

Regarding Saudi Arabia, Raeesi said, 'Saudi Arabia is a nominee for eradication of malaria, too. But it has an increase as compared to the previous year.'

He also added that the challenge on the part of Iran is that Iran is a neighbor of Pakistan and Afghanistan which have a high infection rate; Pakistan is the second on the list of malaria cases in the world, after Sudan.

Head of the WHO Global Malaria Program Pedro Alonso said on Monday that Iran has been very successful in fighting malaria, so it can be an example for other countries, adding that Iran could limit the number of malaria infections to 75, which is expected to reach zero in three years.

About 200 million people get infected by malaria each year, 500,000 of whom lose their lives.

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