Although
 
the
 
burden
 
of
 
Plasmodium
 
falciparum
 
malaria
 
is
 
gradually
 
declining
 
in
many
 
parts
 
of
 
Africa,
 
it
 
is
 
characterized
 
by
 
spatial
 
and
 
temporal
 
variability
 
that
presents
 
new
 
and
 
evolving
 
challenges
 
for
 
malaria
 
control
 
programs.
 
Reductions
in
 
the
 
malaria
 
burden
 
need
 
to
 
be
 
sustained
 
in
 
the
 
face
 
of
 
changing
 
epidemiology
whilst
 
simultaneously
 
tackling
 
signi ﬁ cant
 
pockets
 
of
 
sustained
 
or
 
increasing
transmission.
 
Large-scale,
 
robust
 
surveillance
 
mechanisms
 
that
 
measure
 
rather
than
 
estimate
 
the
 
actual
 
burden
 
of
 
malaria
 
over
 
time
 
from
 
large
 
areas
 
of
 
the
continent
 
where
 
such
 
data
 
are
 
lacking
 
need
 
to
 
be
 
prioritized.
 
We
 
review
 
these
fascinating
 
developments,
 
caution
 
against
 
complacency,
 
and
 
make
 
the
 
case
that
 
improving
 
the
 
extent
 
and
 
quality
 
of
 
malaria
 
surveillance
 
is
 
vital
 
for
 
Africa
 
as
she
 
marches
 
on
 
towards
 
elimination.