Malaria Threats Map: tracking the spread of biological threats to malaria
The Malaria Threats Map is an interactive data platform which provides a geographic overview of the status of the 4 biological threats to malaria control and elimination:
- Vector insecticide resistance
- Invasive vector species
- pfhrp2/3 gene deletions
- Antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance
The Malaria Threats Map provides users with a global overview of the key biological threats to malaria. Each threat map can be customized according to indicators and filters, which are relevant to each threat. Dashboards provide summary data in the form of tables and charts. A download tool allows users to download data for their own analysis. The application includes a short tutorial.
For questions or suggestions, please contact: gmp-maps@who.int
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Malaria Threats Map
WHO/GMP would like to acknowledge the University of Oxford; the Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Quy Nhon, Viet Nam; the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Viet Nam; the Centre for Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic; and the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for contributing antimalarial drug resistance data from the Greater Mekong Subregion. WHO acknowledges the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Wellcome Trust, who provided the funding for this work.
How can the Malaria Threats Map help policy-makers, countries and researchers?
Global databases included in the Malaria Threats Map
Vector insecticide resistance
The global database on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors was established in 2014 to help track insecticide resistance worldwide. Following a large data consolidation exercise conducted in 2019, which included the integration of separate WHO regional databases and data from other public sources, it has become the largest database on insecticide resistance available at present. It contains data on the status of insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles mosquitoes in more than 88 countries. The contents of the database are provided by Member States, partners (including research and academic institutes) as well as nongovernmental organizations, and are extracted from published and non-published reports on insecticide bioassays.
P. falciparum hrp2/3 gene deletions
The global database on pfhrp2/3 gene deletions stores data from reviews of published and unpublished reports. These data are regularly updated on the Malaria Threats Map, which gives an overview of the geographical distribution of pfhrp2/3 gene deletions and how the situation is evolving over time.
Collection of information on pfhrp2 deletions The WHO Response Plan to pfhrp2 deletions calls for urgent action to determine the scale and scope of the problem and WHO has developed surveillance protocol templates to support these efforts. Tracking of surveillance activities is critical to directing resources as well as informing RDT demand forecasting and R&D. WHO has therefore developed a pfhrp2 surveillance dashboard, which can be completed by representatives of ministries of health and research groups leading surveillance efforts. To add information on planned or ongoing of pfhrp2/3 surveillance, please complete this survey. The results of the survey on pfhrp2/3 surveillance have been integrated into the Malaria Threats Map platform. To review the results, please visit the Malaria Threats Map, select the theme on pfhrp2/3 gene deletions, and select the map of ongoing studies. |
Antimalarial drug efficacy and drug resistance
The global database on antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance was initiated in 2000 to facilitate tracking the status of antimalarial drug efficacy in malaria endemic countries. The contents of the database are extracted from published and non-published therapeutic efficacy studies (TES) and molecular marker studies conducted by ministries of health, national malaria control programmes, research institutes and nongovernmental organizations. The database includes data for the 5 malaria parasite species and 4 types of molecular markers of resistance: Kelch 13, Pfplasmepsin 2-3, Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt.
Collection of information on planned and ongoing monitoring of drug efficacy and resistance Regular monitoring of antimalarial drug efficacy is needed to inform treatment policies, and surveillance of molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance can help track the spread of antimalarial drug resistance and inform the need for further activities. Having an overview of planned and ongoing collection of efficacy and resistance information is crucial to direct resources and surveillance activities. WHO has therefore developed 2 dashboards: one to collect information on studies of drug efficacy and another to collect information on surveys of molecular markers of drug resistance. These dashboards are to be voluntarily populated by representatives of ministries of health, partners and research groups leading surveillance efforts. Collectively this will generate a global picture of drug efficacy and resistance surveillance efforts. The contents of the dashboards will be updated monthly and freely downloadable and eventually visually integrated into the Malaria Threats Map platform. |
Invasive vector species
The global database on invasive mosquito vector species was created in August 2018 following a recommendation from the Evidence Review Group on the spread of Anopheles stephensi. At present, the database contains data on detection of Anopheles stephensi outside of its native ecosystems. Detections of other invasive species will be added as reports become available. The data is provided by Member States, research institutions or directly extracted from peer-reviewed scientific publications.