London, Aug. 23 -- The World Health Organization says it's theoretically possible to wipe out malaria, but probably not with the flawed vaccine and other control methods being used at the moment.

Dr. Pedro Alonso, the U.N. health agency's global malaria director, said WHO is "unequivocably in favor" of eradication, but that major questions about its feasibility remain. In a press briefing on Thursday, Alonso acknowledged that "with the tools we have today, it is most unlikely eradication will be achieved."

Alonso was presenting the results of a WHO-commissioned report evaluating if eradicating malaria should be pursued. He said the experts concluded lingering uncertainties meant they were unable to formulate a clear strategy and thus, c...