Malaria Remains Endemic in 83 Countries

On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for revitalized efforts, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress toward the elimination of Malaria, a serious disease.

As of April 2025, the WHO has certified 45 countries and one territory as malaria-free. Of the remaining 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 reported fewer than 10 cases of the disease in 2023.

The WHO says, 'More than 2 billion cases of mosquito-transmitted malaria and nearly 13 million deaths have been prevented since 2000.'

However, as history has shown with diseases such as polio, these gains are fragile.

"The history of malaria teaches us a harsh lesson: when we divert our attention, the disease resurges, taking its greatest toll on the most vulnerable," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a media release on April 25, 2025.

"But the same history also shows us what's possible: with strong political commitment, sustained investment, multisectoral action, and community engagement, malaria can be defeated."

The WHO highlighted two positive changes.

The expanded use of a new generation of insecticide-treated nets is poised to lower the disease burden. According to the latest World Malaria Report, these new nets, which have a greater impact against Malaria than the standard pyrethroid-only nets, accounted for nearly 80% of all nets delivered in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, up from 59% the previous year.

Additionally, the WHO has listed two malaria vaccines and are being administered in various African countries, such as Nigeria.

As of April 28, 2025, the majority of malaria cases in the United States are attributed to travelers returning from Africa, such as in Florida.

However, the Mosquirix and R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines remain unavailable in the U.S.

In lieu of vaccination, the U.S. CDC says avoiding mosquito bites and taking appropriate medications is the best way to prevent Malaria.