Ric Price^1
1Menzies School of Health Research

Over the last two decades huge progress has been made in reducing the burden of malaria across the Asia Pacific region, however malaria transmission continues in 21 endemic countries. In recent years progress has stalled and even reversed in some areas.  The control and ultimate elimination of malaria relies on parasite surveillance, early diagnosis of malaria and administration of safe and highly effective antimalarial treatment. Key challenges include the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistant parasites and the difficulty of eliminating the hypnozoite stages of Plasmodium vivax that causes relapsing malaria that sustain ongoing parasite transmission.  New tools are now available to support molecular surveillance of parasites; these can determine the origin of infection (endemic or imported) and the spread of drug resistance P. falciparum.  New treatments and diagnostics have also been developed to test patients for G6PD deficiency and provide safe and effective radical cure of the parasites. Whilst the resources available to manage patients differ greatly between malaria endemic countries and Australia, there are many complementary approaches. This talk will present novel approaches for surveillance and case management that are informing better treatment practice for patients within Australia, as well as supporting surveillance and best practice in neighboring malaria endemic countries.