Azerbaijan and Tajikistan: Malaria-Free Countries

April 4, 2023

Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were declared malaria-free by the WHO on March 29, 2023. This came as the result of an extensive century-long campaign by the two nations to eradicate the disease.

Elimination of Anopheles Mosquito-Borne Disease

Malaria is a serious and life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The declaration by the WHO that Azerbaijan and Tajikistan are malaria-free is a significant achievement for the two nations. They have eliminated the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease in their territories.

Evidence of Breaking Malaria Transmission Cycle

To be certified as malaria-free by the WHO, a country must provide rigorous, credible evidence showing that the malaria transmission cycle has been broken for at least the last three years. In Tajikistan the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria were discovered in 2012. In Azerbaijan, it was last recorded in 2014.

41 Countries and One Territory Malaria-Free

With the latest announcement, 41 countries and one territory, including 21 countries in the European Region, have been declared as malaria-free by the World Health Organization. Azerbaijan and Tajikistan’s achievement brings the WHO European Region two steps closer to becoming the first region in the world to be fully malaria-free.

Long-term Commitment to Eradicate Malaria

Both Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked hard and invested extensively in eliminating malaria. They have provided free basic healthcare to their citizens for over 60 years. Additionally, the governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan employed targeted malaria interventions, such as spraying insecticides on the interior walls of homes to prevent the disease, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment and maintenance of skilled healthcare professionals.

National Electronic Malaria Monitoring Systems

The national electronic malaria monitoring systems were used by Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to determine whether a malarial infection is indigenous or imported and provide real-time case data. These systems allow them to monitor and detect any potential cases of malaria, enabling early intervention and prevention of transmission.

Biological Larval Control Strategies

Both countries have also employed biological larval control strategies to lessen malaria carriers, such as using mosquito-eating fish and implementing water management practices. These strategies have proven to be effective in reducing the mosquito population and ultimately decreasing the incidence of malaria.

Preventing Re-establishment of Transmission

Despite providing rigorous, credible evidence, a country must also demonstrate its capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission to be certified as malaria-free. The WHO expects Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to maintain their efforts to prevent the reintroduction of malaria transmission.

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