The control, elimination, and eradication of malaria is complicated as it reflects an extremely complex set of interactions between the parasite, the human host, and vectors responsible for transmission as well as the environmental, social and economic, and behavioral factors that foster these interactions. Ideally, any roadblock to cease the life cycle should effectively interrupt transmission and facilitate eradication efforts; however, there has been no single intervention to achieve this effort. According to the Malaria Eradication Research Agenda initiative (MalERA) through collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), there are four keys identified as first steps in efforts to control the disease:
- Increase the fundamental understanding of the complex interactions among malaria parasites, mosquito vectors responsible for their transmission, and the human host.
- Strengthen the ability to identify, develop, validate, and evaluate new tools and strategies for the treatment, prevention, and control of malaria.
- Enhance both national and international research as well as research training infrastructure to meet malaria research needs for community-based and supported clinical trials in malaria-endemic countries.
- Advance research to develop, support, and sustain global efforts to control, eliminate, and eventually eradicate malaria.
