In the 1980s,China was one of the first countries in the world to extensively test the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs，藥浸蚊帳)for the prevention of malaria,well before nets were recommended by WHO for malaria control.

By 1988,more than 2.4 million nets had been distributed nationwide.The use of such nets greatly prevented malaria in the areas where they were deployed.

By the end of 1990,the number of malaria cases in China had fallen to 117,000,and deaths were reduced by 95%.With the support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,Tuberculosis（結(jié)核病）and Malaria,from 2003,China stepped up training,staffing（人員配備）,laboratory equipment,medicines and mosquito control.It led to a further reduction in cases.Within 10 years,the number of cases had fallen to about 5,000 annually.

In recent years,the country further reduced its malaria caseload through a strict adherence to the timelines of the “1-3-7” strategy.The “1” means the one-day deadline for health facilities to report a malaria diagnosis;by the end of day 3,health authorities are required to confirm a case and determine the risk of spread;and within 7 days,proper measures must be taken to prevent further spread of the disease.

In 2020,after reporting 4 constant years of zero indigenous（本土的）cases,China applied for an official WHO certification of malaria elimination.Members of the independent Malaria Elimination Certification Panel travelled to China this year to prove the country's malaria-free status as well as its program to prevent re-establishment of the disease.

Globally,40 countries and regions have been granted a malaria-free certification from WHO,including most recently,El Salvador (2021),Algeria(2019),Argentina(2019),Paraguay(2018)and Uzbekistan(2018).

Reading Check

What do you think of the achievements China made in eliminating malaria?

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