Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. When infected mosquitoes bite the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver and then infect red blood cells. Even though this potentially fatal disease can be prevented and cured, each year 350-500 million cases of malaria still occur worldwide, and over one million people die.

The Effect of Climate Change on Malaria

In commemoration of World Malaria Day, 2021, we look at the relationship between malaria transmission and climate change.

What is Malaria?

Malaria Causes

World Malaria Day 2021: An interview with Sir Brian Greenwood

Malaria Mechanism

Malaria Diagnosis

Malaria Prevention

World Malaria Day 2021: Finding new approaches to fight malaria

Malaria Treatment

Malaria Epidemiology

Malaria History

Fighting malaria in 2021: Where are we now and where are we going?

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Malaria Society And Culture

Malaria Symptoms

Malaria: A Force Shaping Blood Cell Evolution?

What is Cerebral Malaria?

Driving the Self-Destruction of Malaria-Transmitting Mosquitos

The Science Behind Why Mosquitoes Prefer to Bite Certain People

Latest Malaria News and Research

SwRI designs bed netting systems for mosquito-based malaria control

Southwest Research Institute tapped into its drug formulation and manufacturing expertise to fabricate two bed netting prototypes targeting malaria-causing blood parasites.

21 May 2025

Evolution of malaria protein family offers new drug targets

Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) have shown that the evolution of a family of exported proteins in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum enabled it to infect humans.

19 May 2025

Malaria parasite found to evade the immune system by shutting down key genes

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered how a parasite that causes malaria when transmitted through a mosquito bite can hide from the body's immune system, sometimes for years.

16 May 2025

New genetic database sheds light on Brazil’s ancestry and disease risks

Since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, the world's scientific community has been racing to decipher this "book" written in an alphabet of four letters.

15 May 2025

New WHO report reveals the deeper health impacts caused by COVID-19 pandemic

WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being.

15 May 2025

AI model offers early warning for acute malnutrition in Kenya

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the USC School of Advanced Computing and the Keck School of Medicine, working alongside experts from the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Amref Health Africa, and Kenya's Ministry of Health, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict acute child malnutrition in Kenya up to six months in advance.

14 May 2025

WHO and Medicines Patent Pool support Nigerian innovation in health diagnostics

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) have today announced a sublicensing agreement between MPP and a Nigerian health technology company – Codix Bio – to start development and manufacturing of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) using technology transferred from global in-vitro diagnostics company – SD Biosensor (SDB).

9 May 2025

Anti-parasitic drug could accelerate the elimination of infection endemic to Africa

Tens of millions of people in Africa are infected by parasitic worms that cause lymphatic filariasis (also called elephantiasis), a disease that leads to severe swelling and deformities of the limbs and genitals.

7 May 2025

New RNA-based diagnostics to fight against tuberculosis

In 2023, tuberculosis (TB) killed about 1.25 million people worldwide, more than any other infectious disease on Earth — even though it is curable. Months- or even years-long regimens of potent antibiotics can eradicate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.

25 Apr 2025

Malaria infection linked to childhood cancer risk

New data published in The Journal of Immunology uncovered the role of Plasmodium falciparum infection (malaria) in the development of Burkitt lymphoma (BL), the most common childhood cancer in equatorial Africa and New Guinea.

25 Apr 2025

WHO urges renewed global effort to end malaria

On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for revitalized efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

25 Apr 2025

Global immunization progress threatened by misinformation and funding cuts

Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week, 24–30 April.

24 Apr 2025

China's malaria-free status offers key lessons for global efforts

China's success in achieving malaria-free status in 2021 offers crucial lessons for the global malaria fight, say experts in a special collection of articles published by The BMJ today.

22 Apr 2025

Researchers find immune system proteins involved in severe cases of schistosomiasis

New insights into the mechanisms that cause more severe cases of schistosomiasis - a disease caused by parasitic worms and second only to malaria in terms of potential harm - have been revealed by researchers at Penn State.

21 Apr 2025

Climate change poses global risk to safe blood supply

A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggests a changing climate threatens the continuous availability of safe blood across the world.

16 Apr 2025

Genetic diversity of malaria parasite challenges one size fits all strategies

Despite decades of efforts focused on mosquito eradication, drug therapies, and vaccines, malaria remains hard to beat, especially in Africa.

11 Apr 2025

WHO warns of health service disruptions due to ODA cuts

The World Health Organization (WHO) issues warning on health service disruptions reported in 70% of its surveyed country offices as a result of sudden suspensions and reductions in official development assistance (ODA) for health.

11 Apr 2025

Call for urgent support as US funding cuts threaten HIV/AIDS programs

In the face of ongoing funding disruptions to US foreign assistance programmes, a group of international experts calls for urgent action to ensure the continuation of life-saving interventions and support for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

9 Apr 2025

UN sounds alarm over funding cuts impacting maternal health

Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth according to a major new report released today, but United Nations (UN) agencies highlight the threat of major backsliding as unprecedented aid cuts take effect around the world.

7 Apr 2025

Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: A Conversation with WHO’s Dr. Allotey

Dr. Pascale Allotey advocates for comprehensive maternal health policies, stressing the importance of women's voices in shaping effective healthcare solutions.

7 Apr 2025