Pandemic healthcare disruptions contributed to 76,000 extra malaria deaths: report

Disruptions of malaria case management caused by the COVID-19 pandemic likely contributed to an extra 76,000 malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, according to analysis by Telethon Kids Institute and Curtin University.

Researchers from the Malaria Atlas Project examined 32 countries in the region, which is the global hotspot for deaths by malaria, finding the COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions to effective malaria treatment likely contributed to an additional 5.9 million cases of malaria.

The study was published in the journal Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease and utilized data collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO), where key country stakeholders were asked how much in their view were malaria diagnostic and treatment services disrupted during the pandemic.

First author, Dr Paulina Dzianach, said the main factor contributing to the deaths was the decreased access to life saving anti-malarial drugs.

“The biggest factor was in the accessibility of anti-malarial drugs because of the disruption to healthcare services. These disruptions included inhibited movement during the pandemic due to lockdowns and curfews, staff being diverted to tackle COVID-19, or increased cost of care due to supply chain disruptions and loss of income,” she said.

“Also, a number of clinics that provide anti-malarial drugs were forced to close or reduce their hours and people felt less comfortable visiting clinics because of fears about COVID-19 exposure.”

Dr Dzianach said many of the additional malaria deaths were in children.

“Children are most at risk of malaria because they haven’t built up an immunity yet,” she said.

Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa maintained the vital preventative measures to control malaria outbreaks, including the distribution of mosquito nets and spraying houses for mosquitos.

“Despite the immense challenges, most scheduled vector control campaigns went ahead during the pandemic, although many of them were delayed.” Dr Dzianach said.

Dr Dzianach said the countries with a high burden of malaria were conscious not to abandon control efforts when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“There was a tremendous amount of effort in the region to minimize disruptions to essential healthcare services, including infectious diseases such as malaria.

“But I think it was inevitable that there would be some disruptions given the scope of the pandemic.”

Almost 619,000 people died from malaria in 2021 alone – most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The WHO estimates almost half the world’s population is at risk of malaria.

The Malaria Atlas Project, based at Telethon Kids Institute and Curtin University, uses innovative data and analytics to collaborate globally in the fight against Malaria, providing valuable information to governments, global organisations and local health authorities in areas impacted by the disease.