Cape Verde, A sub-Saharan African nation, has been declared malaria-free for the first time in 50 years.
Cape Verde was given the status by the World Health Organization (WHO) as it has not reported a single case of local transmission in three years.
Experts have described this as a major achievement.
Malaria is a huge killer on the continent. In 2022, 580,000 people in Africa died from the disease, amounting to 95% of fatalities worldwide.
The disease is caused by a complex parasite which is spread by mosquito bites.
Vaccines are now being used in some places but monitoring the disease and avoiding mosquito bites are the most effective ways to prevent malaria.
Cape Verde, a small island nation off the coast of West Africa, has taken years to reach this point by strengthening its health systems and increasing access to diagnosis and treatment of all cases.
Surveillance officers have been detecting cases early, as well as controlling mosquitoes.
Cape Verde’s plan for malaria control has also ensured free care and diagnostic services for international travelers and migrants, with the aim of stemming the tide of cases imported from mainland Africa.
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