从3000万到0！今天，向她致敬！

Core Viewpoint - Malaria has been a significant global health threat, but China has successfully eliminated it, largely due to the discovery of artemisinin by Tu Youyou, marking a remarkable achievement in public health [1][12]. Group 1: Historical Context of Malaria in China - Malaria, known as "打摆子," is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium, characterized by periodic fever and chills, leading to severe health issues and high mortality rates [3]. - Before the establishment of New China, there were approximately 30 million malaria cases annually, with around 300,000 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 1% [3]. - The peak of malaria cases in China occurred in 1970, with over 24 million reported cases [3]. Group 2: Development of Artemisinin - Prior to the introduction of artemisinin, the main treatments for malaria were quinine and chloroquine, which became less effective due to drug resistance [5]. - In 1969, Tu Youyou was appointed to lead the "523" project aimed at developing new anti-malarial drugs, marking the beginning of her significant contributions to malaria treatment [5][9]. - Tu Youyou compiled over 640 traditional Chinese medicinal recipes for malaria treatment and conducted hundreds of experiments, ultimately leading to the discovery of artemisinin [9]. Group 3: Clinical Trials and Recognition - To ensure the safety of artemisinin, Tu Youyou volunteered to test the drug herself, stating her responsibility as the team leader [9][10]. - In July 1972, Tu and her team confirmed the safety of artemisinin through clinical trials [10]. - Tu Youyou received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for her groundbreaking work on artemisinin, marking a significant milestone for Chinese scientific research [12][15]. Group 4: Impact and Ongoing Research - Since the introduction of artemisinin, it has saved millions of lives globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that it treats hundreds of millions of patients each year [16]. - On June 30, 2021, the WHO awarded China with a certification for malaria elimination, recognizing the country's efforts from 30 million cases annually to complete eradication [16]. - Despite the elimination of malaria, research on artemisinin continues in China, highlighting the ongoing commitment to scientific advancement [16].