Of all the infectious diseases that affect humans, which one would you rank as the highest priority for eradication?

Of all the infectious diseases that affect humans, which one would you rank as the highest priority for eradication? What factors influence your preference? What would be required to actually eradicate your selected infectious disease?

In my opinion, malaria ranks as a high-priority infectious disease for eradication. Though it is most prevalent in certain parts of the world (sub-Saharan Africa), it is so easily transmitted as a result of a bite from an infected mosquito and, thus, can be easily spread from an infected human, if bitten by other mosquitoes, and infect others who may then be bitten. Although there has been a reduction in the occurrence of malaria in the past 15-20 years as a result of increased prevention and treatment interventions, the statistics and information in the textbook are eye-opening:

• In 2015, there were more than 200 million cases of malaria worldwide and about 450,000 people died from the disease.
• Children and pregnant women are most at risk for severe complications and death from the disease.
• In 2015, the percentage of young children who died as a result of contracting malaria was as high as 70 percent (300,000 under the age of 5).
• Babies born to mothers with malaria are at increased risk of low birth weight and other birth complications.
• Some strains of malaria are becoming resistant to drugs used to treat it.

Increased distribution and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) in at-risk areas and populations to help interrupt the mosquito-human-mosquito transmission of malaria would be a relatively inexpensive way to help in eradicating the disease. Treating individuals with a combination of anti-malarial drugs (ACT) has also been effective in malaria control. Mosquito control by using insect repellents regularly to prevent a bite also reduces the chance of contracting the disease. The reduction of cases of malaria with consistent preventative and treatment interventions is a good start to possibly eradicating the disease.