World Malaria Day is observed every year on 25 April to recognise global efforts to control malaria.

EVI，April 25, 2025

World Malaria Day (WMD) provides an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in the fight against malaria and what still needs to be done. This year on WMD 2025, we are focusing on the progress made, the barriers that remain, and the critical role of communities in shaping the fight against malaria.

Great progress has been made over the years. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria, and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000. Despite progress, raising awareness about the global effort to defeat malaria remains vital, along with continued investment and political commitment to its prevention, control, and elimination.

Malaria is both a preventable and treatable disease, yet it continues to affect millions worldwide. According to the latest World malaria report, there were 263 million cases of malaria in 2023 compared to 252 million cases in 2022. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 597,000 in 2023 compared to 600,000 in 2022. The WHO African Region continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2023 the Region was home to about 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of deaths. Children under 5 years of age accounted for about 76% of all malaria deaths in the Region.

New developments in 2025:

While malaria cases have declined in some regions, new challenges are emerging e.g., Drug resistance, climate change, and healthcare access gaps. Fortunately, there have been major breakthroughs malaria vaccine research. As of October 2023, WHO recommends the programmatic use of malaria vaccines (RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M) for the prevention of P. falciparum malaria in children living in malaria-endemic areas, prioritising areas of moderate and high transmission. As of March 2025, 18 countries in Africa have introduced a malaria vaccine. European Vaccine Initiative (EVI) and partners are collaborating with implementation partners in most of these countries to develop strategies to optimise delivery and increase uptake. The vaccines are expected to save tens of thousands of young lives every year with wide implementation. 

The recommended vaccines could also potentially be used to reduce malaria in pregnancy to improve pregnancy outcomes. To facilitate this, EVI and partners are conducting a Phase II trial in Mali to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of R21/Matrix-M vaccine in preventing malaria in women of childbearing potential and assess its effect on future pregnancy outcomes. The trial started in March 2025 > (Read more: https://www.euvaccine.eu/post/evi-initiates-a-new-clinical-trial-to-protect-pregnant-women-against-malaria).

Beyond vaccines, integrated solutions such as community-engagement, are also essential for the fight against malaria. Scientific advances are most powerful when they create real-world impact.

EVI-lead Ethnographic study highlights insights from women, healthcare workers, and community leaders who are at the forefront of malaria prevention. The study conducted in Malawi has shown us that trust, language, and lived experiences shape how people perceive malaria and vaccines. With these insights we can develop informed tailored educational campaigns and community engagement strategies for the people who need them most. > (Read more: https://www.euvaccine.eu/post/chronicles-from-malawi-africa).

World Malaria Day 2025 is an opportunity to advocate for stronger commitments, better policies, and increased funding to achieve a malaria-free future.

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*OPT-MVAC: Funded by the European Union, under the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of Global Health EDCTP3 nor its members. Neither of the aforementioned parties can be held responsible for them.

*Clinical Trial in Mali: NCT06080243 study receives support from Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands (DGIS). - https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06080243

*Ethnographic study in Malawi research received support from Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands (DGIS).