Ending malaria in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

25 April 2026, Cairo, Egypt - World Malaria Day 2026 comes at a critical moment. Under the theme "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must", the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent action to halt rising risks and get malaria elimination efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean Region back on track.

Malaria is surging across parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. There were an estimated 11.1 million cases and 22 100 deaths in 2024, more than a third of them children under 5.

The Region is significantly off track to meet Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 targets. Malaria incidence is 7 times higher than the 2025 milestone, and mortality rates more than seven times above target. Behind these figures are overstretched health systems, disrupted services and communities increasingly exposed to risk.

Hampered by funding shortfalls, progress is uneven, fragile and at risk of reversal. In 2024, global malaria financing reached just US$ 3.9 billion, less than half the sum required. The consequences are potentially devastating. When programmes weaken, malaria resurges, reversing years of progress and costing lives.

At the same time, scientific advances are moving faster than ever. New malaria vaccines are being rolled out in 25 countries, protecting millions of children each year. Next-generation mosquito nets now make up the majority of new distributions. Promising tools, including long-acting treatments and emerging technologies, are expanding what is possible.

"We have the tools. We have the knowledge," says WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy. "Now we must match them with sustained investment, strong systems and collective action."

Countries across the Region are pushing ahead despite constraints. Sudan has begun rolling out malaria vaccines, and expansion is underway; together with the introduction of preventive treatment for pregnant women, these steps will directly reduce deaths.

Progress, though, remains uneven. Conflict, climate pressures and population displacement continue to fuel transmission. Weak health systems limit access to, and the quality of, essential services. Funding gaps slow the delivery of lifesaving tools and increase the risk of drug and insecticide resistance. Without sustained investment, outbreaks will become more frequent, and malaria will spread further.

The message this World Malaria Day is clear. The tools exist. The knowledge exists. The opportunity is real, but it will not last without decisive action.

WHO and its partners are urging governments and donors to act now to close the funding gap, strengthen national programmes and ensure that innovations reach the communities that need them most.

This is a pivotal moment. With sustained commitment, malaria can be eliminated. Without it, the disease will continue to take lives and undermine the future of the Region.

This World Malaria Day grasp the moment. Protect lives. Invest in a malaria-free future.

Zero malaria starts with each one of us.

Note to editors

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.

The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person.

Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening. Mild symptoms are fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures and difficulty breathing.

Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection.

Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines. Treatment can stop mild cases from getting worse.

Malaria mostly spreads to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria. The first symptoms may be mild, similar to many febrile illnesses, and difficulty to recognize as malaria. Left untreated, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness and death within 24 hours.

There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species - P. falciparum and P. vivax - pose the greatest threat. P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa. The other malaria species which can infect humans are P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi.

Related links:

World Malaria Day 2026 Regional Campaign webpage

Malaria factsheet

World Malaria Report 2025

Regional Malaria Action Plan 2022 - 2023

Media contacts

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