In 2024, malaria was responsible for approximately 610,000 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday.
The majority of these fatalities occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, with children being the most vulnerable victims.
The number of malaria cases also increased, rising from 273 million to an estimated 282 million, according to WHO’s latest annual report.
The agency highlighted factors such as growing drug resistance, climate change, and reductions in funding as major contributors to the surge.
WHO warned that the progress made in the early 2000s could be reversed if urgent action is not taken. Countries like Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Yemen have particularly experienced sharp rises in cases.
Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted through mosquito bites, and the fight against it has seen both progress and setbacks. New medications are developed, but over time the parasite evolves and becomes resistant.
At the start of the 21st century, resistance to chloroquine was widespread, and malaria claimed more than 1.8 million lives annually.
The introduction of artemisinin-based drugs led to a dramatic drop in global malaria deaths. These compounds remain the first-line treatment for most patients today.
Children continue to bear the brunt of this deadly disease, emphasizing the urgent need for prevention, treatment, and global support to protect the youngest and most vulnerable
