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Big gains have been made worldwide to defeat malaria; cases and deaths from the mosquito-borne illness have been cut in half in the past 10 years, thanks to health and humanitarian efforts, according to a story on . The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report which said deaths from malaria could fall to zero by 2015 if even bigger steps are taken.

Controlling deaths is much more immediate than total eradication, which could take between 40 and 50 years, according to the story.

According to the WHO, the number deaths from malaria worldwide dropped to 781,000 in 2009 from nearly a million in 2000. But there are still around 225 million cases a year and the disease remains endemic in 106 countries.

The reduction in deaths is due largely to increased funding from a host of nations including the U.S., France, and Britain. Its access to treatment options including insecticide treated nets, indoor spraying, proper diagnostic testing, and effective drugs, that make the difference, and even still, more needs to be done to ensure availability to those in need.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. The parasite multiplies in the liver and infects red blood cells. According to the CDC, people with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications resulting from a disruption in blood supply to vital organs, causing death.

“There is more to be done to address these issues, but with appropriate commitments, the gains can accrue rapidly,” the report said.

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