Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

The role of research in China’s successful elimination of malaria

Nature Medicine volume 28, pages 1336–1338 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

The elimination of malaria from China relied on local decision-makers who tested and implemented interventions, combined with a centralized drug discovery program. This holds lessons for other malaria-endemic countries.

The elimination of malaria in China, formerly the largest malaria-endemic country, represents a considerable public health achievement of global resonance. Multiple factors have contributed to driving the malaria burden from an estimated 30 million annual cases in the 1950s to the interruption of transmission. However, the role of research and a flexible, contextually adapted problem-solving approach in driving this endeavor has remained insufficiently described and acknowledged.

Your institute does not have access to this article

Access options

Buy article

Get time limited or full article access on ReadCube.

$32.00

Buy

All prices are NET prices.

References

  1. Jang, C. S. et al. Nature 161, 400 (1948).

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chou, T. Q. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 70, 1765–1767 (1948).

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Su, X. Z. et al. Sci. China Life Sci. 58, 1175–1179 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Chen, C. Infect. Dis. Poverty 3, 9 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liang, X. T. et al. Acta Chimica Sinica 3, 215–230 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Han, G. Y. et al. Chin. Sci. Bull. 6, 285–286 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Li, R. H. et al. J. Dialectics Nat. 1, 144–164 (2013).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Carroll, S. P. et al. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 22, 507–514 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nájera, J. A. et al. PLoS Med. 8, e1000412 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tang, L. H. & Gao, Q. (eds) Malaria Control and Elimination in China (Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2013).

  11. Li, X. H. et al. Malar. J. 20, 147 (2021).

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhou, Z. J. Study of Malaria Control and Prevention in China (Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1991).

  13. Cai, X. Z. China Trop. Med. 9, 1957–1960 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Malaria Prevention Institute of Yunnan Province & Health Office of Menghai Commune in Menghai County. Chin. Med. J. 5, 313–315 (1975).

  15. Wu, X. R. Chin. J. Parasitol. Parasit. Dis. 13, 115–118 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Li, Z. et al. In Proc. Guangdong Institute of Antiparasitic Diseases 16–22 (Guangzhou: Guangdong Institute of Antiparasitic Diseases, 1988).

  17. Li, Z. et al. In Proc. Guangdong Institute of Antiparasitic Diseases 35–49 (Guangzhou: Guangdong Institute of Antiparasitic Diseases, 1988).

  18. Li, Z. Z. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 40, 356–359 (1989).

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Roll Back Malaria (WHO, 1999).

  20. Gao, B. et al. J. Prac. Parasit. Dis. 8, 162–164 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ge, F. X. et al. Acta Ecologica Sinica 1, 168–174 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

    Xiaohong Li & Pedro L. Alonso

  2. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Youyou Tu

  3. National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Linhua Tang

  4. Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China

    Qi Gao

Authors
  1. Xiaohong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Youyou Tu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linhua Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qi Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pedro L. Alonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

X.L. and P.L.A. conceived the article and wrote the first draft. Y.T., L.T. and Q.G. critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaohong Li.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, X., Tu, Y., Tang, L. et al. The role of research in China’s successful elimination of malaria. Nat Med 28, 1336–1338 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01824-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01824-0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing