| TO THE EDITOR—TheWorld Health Organization
(WHO) Eastern Mediterranean
Region has a total population of 513
million, nearly half of which resides
in areas at risk for malaria. Among
the countries with low malaria burden
limited to certain areas and with effective
malaria programs, Iran has experienced a
gradual decline in malaria over the past
decade, now approaching the ultimate
goal of disease elimination. The first
WHO report from Iran on the disease
status in 1924 indicated malaria as the
most prevalent disease with high morbidity
and mortality [1]. Almost a decade
later, the first malaria study unit was established
in Iran providing free quinine
for malaria patients. Throughout the next
20 years, numerous measures were taken
to tackle the malaria burden including
drug prophylaxis and treatment, antimosquito
spraying with DDT, and a few
antilarval control measures such as Gambusia
fish release. However, it was not
until 1956 that the Malaria Eradication
Program (MEP) was launched in Iran
with the collaboration of WHO and
UNICEF, |