A parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. New vaccines offer hope for controlling this disease that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths annually.
Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2022, malaria caused an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths globally (WHO, 2023).
Children under 5 years account for approximately 80% of malaria deaths in Africa. The disease is preventable and treatable, but control efforts have been challenged by drug resistance and climate change affecting mosquito habitats.