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Malaria deaths are declining globally
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Over the past 13 years, the number of people dying from malaria has fallen significantly, and new cases have also been declining, according to a malaria report released in Geneva.
Since 2000, malaria deaths have been cut almost in half worldwide. In Africa, where malaria used to kill 90% of those infected, the number of deaths has fallen by 54%.
Studies have shown that in Africa, despite the population growth, fewer people are becoming infected every year (since 2000, the number of infected people has decreased by 45 million).
Director General of the World Health Organization Margaret Chan noted that it is quite possible to cope with malaria today, all the necessary tools are available, however, in order to achieve stable results, it is necessary to provide the necessary tools to all those in need.
Today, there is access to insecticide-treated bed nets (half of the people who were in Africa and had an increased risk of contracting malaria were provided with such means of protection). WHO noted that maximum efforts will be made to provide all those in need with the necessary means of protection, in particular, mosquito nets.
Diagnostic testing has become much better in the world, and today, specialists are successfully treating dangerous diseases.
Today, more and more countries are making successful steps towards the complete elimination of infectious diseases, including malaria. In 2013, two countries already managed to completely eliminate infection with this dangerous disease among the local population (Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka).
However, despite some successes, some problems remain. Over the next few years it will be seen whether humanity is able to maintain the results already achieved.
In 2013, there was a shortage of bed nets treated with a special substance in some regions of Africa where transmission of the infectious disease was observed.
In addition, indoor spraying of insecticide (the main preventive measure to combat the disease) has led to resistance of infection carriers to the substance.
Today, diagnostic tests are widely available and treatments are successful, but many people do not have access to them.
There has also been a slow rate of improvement in preventive measures during pregnancy and in children under 5 years of age.
According to Pedro Alonso (head of the global malaria programme), with the necessary funding, progress will continue in the future.
Since 2005, funding for measures to combat the dangerous disease has increased several times, however, this is not enough to achieve the set global goals.
In addition, the recent Ebola virus outbreak has had a negative impact on malaria treatment and prevention in West Africa.
Given that these regions have high levels of malaria infection, WHO has issued a number of recommendations to combat the disease during the Ebola epidemic (distribution of mosquito nets to these countries, antimalarial drugs in areas particularly at risk of malaria, etc.).
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