On May 24, 2019 the WHO certified which of the following countries as Malaria-free.

Appeared in: BHU NO-2019

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) grants malaria-free certification to countries that have proven the interruption of indigenous transmission for at least three consecutive years.
On May 24, 2019, the WHO officially certified Algeria as malaria-free.
Algeria's achievement made it the second country in the WHO African Region to be declared free of malaria, after Mauritius (1973).
This milestone was the result of sustained political commitment, free healthcare, and a well-trained health workforce.

Option A: South Africa is still considered a malaria-endemic country, with ongoing transmission, particularly in its northeastern provinces. It has not yet met the criteria for WHO certification.
Option B: Uganda has one of the highest malaria burdens globally. The focus in Uganda is on malaria control to reduce morbidity and mortality, not elimination.
Option D: Vietnam has made significant strides in reducing malaria cases and is in the pre-elimination phase, but it has not yet been certified as malaria-free by the WHO.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO Malaria-Free Certification as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowing which countries are malaria-endemic versus malaria-free is crucial for nurses and healthcare providers when advising patients on travel health, including the need for chemoprophylaxis and other preventive measures.
The elimination of malaria from a country is a major public health victory, demonstrating the effectiveness of sustained public health interventions, surveillance, and healthcare systems.
What if? If a patient returns with a fever from Uganda instead of Algeria, the index of suspicion for malaria should be extremely high, and immediate testing (like a rapid diagnostic test or blood smear) is a top priority. For a traveler from Algeria, malaria would be a very unlikely diagnosis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: It asks for a specific country certified as 'Malaria-free' by the 'WHO' on a particular date, 'May 24, 2019'.
This is a factual recall question related to global public health events. Your knowledge of recent WHO declarations is being tested.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of malaria epidemiology.
Recall or deduce the malaria status of each country. South Africa and Uganda are known to have ongoing malaria transmission. Vietnam is known to be working towards elimination.
Algeria's certification in 2019 was a widely reported public health success story, making it the most likely correct answer among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2175-2177

Practise the full BHU NO-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.