Ahead of World Malaria Day on April 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced an important step forward in the fight against malaria with the prequalification of a first aid specifically developed for newborns and young infants weighing two to five kilograms. Prequalification designation indicates that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and will help expand access to quality-assured treatment for one of the most disadvantaged patient groups.
The new prequalified treatment, artemether-lumefantrine, is the first anti-malarial formulation specifically designed for the youngest malaria patients. Until now, infants with malaria have been treated with formulations made for older children, increasing the risk of dosing errors, side effects, and toxicity. WHO prequalification will enable public sector procurement, helping to close the long-standing treatment gap for the approximately 30 million infants born each year in malaria-endemic areas of Africa.
For centuries, malaria has robbed children of their parents and of health, wealth, and hope from communities. But today the story is changing. New vaccines, clinical trials, next-generation bed nets and effective medicines, including those adapted for youth, are helping to change the situation. Ending malaria in our lifetime is no longer a dream – it is a real possibility, but only with sustained political and financial commitment. Now we can. Now we must.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
New Prequalified Test
On 14 April 2026, WHO also prequalified three new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) designed to address emerging diagnostic challenges for malaria. Most common RDT for malaria P.falciparum The parasites work by detecting a protein called HRP2. But based on studies and surveys reported in 46 countries, some strains of the malaria parasite have lost the gene that makes this protein – so they become “invisible” to HRP2-based RDTs, leading to false-negative results. In countries in the Horn of Africa, up to 80% of cases are missed, leading to delayed treatment, severe disease, and even death.
The new tests address this problem by targeting a different parasite protein (PF-LDH) that malaria parasites cannot easily release. They provide a reliable, quality-assured alternative where HRP2-based tests are failing. WHO now recommends that countries switch to these alternative RDTs when more than 5% of cases are missed PF-HRP2 delete. This ensures accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and protects hard-won malaria control gains – especially for the most vulnerable communities.
The announcements come as WHO and partners launch the 2026 World Malaria Day campaign, “Inspire to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must”. The theme is a rallying call to seize this moment – saving lives now and raising money for a malaria-free future.
According to the World Malaria Report 2025, there are an estimated 282 million cases and 610 000 deaths in 2024 – an increase from 2023. While 47 countries have been certified malaria-free and 37 countries reported fewer than 1000 cases in 2024, progress is stalling globally. The gains are at risk due to a number of challenges, including drug resistance, pesticide resistance, clinical failure and severe cuts in international development assistance.
Despite these challenges, substantial progress has been made, with an estimated 2.3 billion malaria infections prevented and 14 million lives saved worldwide since 2000.
Twenty-five countries are now administering malaria vaccines, protecting millions of children, and 84% of all new bed nets distributed are next generation bed nets. These advances demonstrate what is possible when all partners work together to innovate and deliver on the promise of ending malaria for all.
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