GENEVA / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – New tools to fight malaria saved a million lives last year. But progress is under threat as drug resistance increases. The WHO warns of the challenges that could jeopardize the achievement of a malaria-free state.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted in its latest report that new tools to combat malaria, such as dual insecticide nets and recommended vaccines, have prevented an estimated 170 million cases of illness and one million deaths in 2024. However, these advances are threatened by increasing resistance to antimalarial drugs, significantly complicating efforts to eliminate the disease.
Since the WHO approved the first malaria vaccines in 2021, 24 countries have integrated them into their routine vaccination programs. Seasonal malaria prophylaxis was also expanded, reaching 54 million children in 20 countries in 2024. Despite these successes, there were an estimated 282 million cases of malaria and 610,000 deaths in 2024, with 95% of deaths occurring in the WHO Africa region, mostly among children under five years of age.
Increasing resistance to antimalarial drugs represents a significant challenge. Partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives has been confirmed or suspected in at least eight African countries. These drugs have been the backbone of malaria treatment since the failure of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The WHO emphasizes the need for new drugs with new mechanisms of action to counteract resistance.
In addition to biological threats, extreme weather events also contribute to increased malaria outbreaks. Changes in temperature and precipitation influence mosquito habitats and therefore transmission patterns. Conflict and instability in affected regions are causing widespread disruption to health services, limiting access to medical care and delaying timely diagnosis and treatment.
WHO calls on malaria-affected countries to uphold their political commitments to ending malaria deaths. The unity and action of the Big Push initiative aims to help the global malaria community address current and future threats to achieve a malaria-free future.
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