Georgia Certified As The 46th 'Malaria-Free Country' By WHO

Georgia was endemic to at least three species of the malaria parasite - Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax - before the 20th century.

Georgia has for centuries battled with malaria and it has been a persistent challenge to eradicate the disease. The region was endemic to at least three species of the malaria parasite - Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax - before the 20th century. News reports state that in the 1920s, almost 30 per cent of the country's population suffering from malaria with the P vivax species being particularly prevalent.

After undergoing a battle to eradicate the disease for a century, Georgia has officially been certified as a malaria-free country by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is a remarkable achievement that has come after a decade ling struggle. With this certification, Georgia joins 45 other countries and one territory that have reached this milestone, underscoring the global progress towards malaria elimination.

Turkey now remains the only country in the WHO European Region yet to be certified as malaria-free.

WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "Today we congratulate the people of Georgia for their decades of targeted and sustained actions to eliminate malaria, one of the world's leading killers. Georgia's commitment and success gives us hope that a malaria-free world is possible."