Malaria cases surged by 11 million in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching an estimated 263 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday. Deaths remained steady at 597,000, with African children under five bearing the brunt of the disease.
“Malaria remains a preventable and treatable disease, yet it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable—especially young children and pregnant women in Africa,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
While cases and deaths dropped significantly between 2000 and 2015, progress has since stalled and reversed, exacerbated by setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection rate climbed from 58 to 60.4 cases per 1,000 at-risk individuals between 2015 and 2023, far exceeding WHO’s target. Similarly, deaths per 100,000 at risk reached 13.7, more than twice the target.
Innovative tools such as two vaccines and next-generation bed nets offer hope, but challenges persist, including climate change, displacement, drug resistance, and funding shortfalls. In 2023, $4 billion was allocated to fight malaria—less than half of the $8.3 billion required, the WHO noted.
Despite these barriers, progress in some regions highlights the potential to combat this enduring global health threat.