WHO declares Suriname first country in Amazon region 'malaria-free'

Suriname is the first country in the Amazon region to eradicate malaria and has been awarded the 'malaria-free' certificate by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of dedication by the Surinamese government and people to eliminating the disease,” the WHO wrote in a press release. “Suriname’s determination to work towards health equity is an inspiration to all countries striving for a malaria-free future.”

Malaria is an infectious disease that is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes and can lead to fever, muscle pain and headaches or even death. Suriname has shown that since September 2021 no malaria cases have occurred on Surinamese territory and meets the conditions to "reasonably prevent" the disease from advancing again.

Seventy years of malaria control

Suriname's efforts to eradicate malaria began in the 1950s. At that time, pesticides were mainly sprayed indoors. When the densely populated coastal areas were largely malaria-free, attention shifted to indigenous communities in the interior rainforests.

The last source of disease cases was remote mining areas that employ many migrant workers from other countries in the region, where malaria is still endemic.

According to the WHO, the fact that the situation is now under control is mainly due to the years of efforts to reach those remote areas. "It means that future generations can grow up without this potentially deadly disease," says Jarbas Barbosa, director of the WHO regional office for the Americas. In total, 46 countries worldwide now have the 'malaria-free' certificate. In Suriname, there have only been imported cases in recent years from gold diggers and holidaymakers from neighbouring countries and from travellers from Africa and Asia. The country says it remains alert to this.