The Failure of Screening and Treating as a Malaria Elimination Strategy

Falciparum malaria incidence is declining in many countries including in the formerly hyperendemic regions of subSaharan Africa [1]. Malaria control and elimination efforts continue to optimise the case management of patients as they present for health care whilst investigators search for a more aggressive approach that is feasible and effective. One strategy is to routinely screen the population and treat those who are infected, irrespective of whether they have symptoms or not. This strategy has been recommended by international health organizations on the basis of expert opinion and models [2].