Malaria elimination certificate is awarded to a country when the chain of indigenous transmission of the disease has been disrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years.
The only other countries in the WHO Regions of Americas to have eliminated malaria in recent years are Paraguay (2018) and Argentina (2019).
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. It is transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
There are five kinds of malarial parasites — Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Why in news?
Recently, El Salvador has become the first country in central America and the third in all Americas to get the malaria-free certificate from the World Health Organization (WHO).
El Salvador
Why in news?
Recently, El Salvador has become the first country in central America and the third in all Americas to get the malaria-free certificate from the World Health Organization (WHO).