WHO Warns of Global Malaria Surge with Rising Cases, Deaths and Drug Resistance - Video

Global progress against malaria has hit a major setback, warns the World Malaria Report 2025 released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report reveals that 282 million people contracted malaria in 2024, 9 million more than in 2023-while 610,000 lives were lost globally. The African region accounted for 94% of cases and 95% of deaths, mostly among children under five. India represented over 73% of all infections and nearly 89% of malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia region, the report added. Meanwhile, 24 countries have introduced WHO-approved vaccines, and two nations-Egypt and Timor-Leste-were declared malaria-free in 2025, reports the Business Standard.

The WHO cautioned that rising drug and insecticide resistance, funding shortfalls, and climate-related pressures are fuelling the resurgence. Global malaria funding in 2024 stood at only $3.9 billion—just 42% of the needed amount. Calling for urgent action, WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged nations to accelerate innovation, improve surveillance, and expand access to life-saving tools to prevent decades of hard-won progress from being undone.