Islamabad: Ahead of World Malaria Day on April 25, the World Health Organization has announced a major step in malaria control by prequalifying the first treatment specifically developed for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms, along with three new diagnostic tests.
The prequalification confirms that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and is expected to expand access to reliable treatment for one of the most underserved patient groups.
The newly approved formulation of artemether-lumefantrine is the first antimalarial designed specifically for newborns. Until now, infants have been treated with medicines intended for older children, increasing the risk of dosing errors, side effects and toxicity. The move is expected to help close a long-standing treatment gap affecting an estimated 30 million babies born each year in malaria-endemic regions, particularly in Africa.
“For centuries, malaria has stolen children from their parents, and health, wealth and hope from communities,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He said new tools, including vaccines, improved diagnostics, next-generation mosquito nets and age-appropriate medicines, are helping turn the tide against the disease, but stressed that sustained political and financial commitment remains essential.
In a parallel development, WHO on April 14, 2026 prequalified three new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to address growing challenges in malaria detection. Most existing tests for Plasmodium falciparum rely on detecting a protein called HRP2. However, studies across 46 countries show that some parasite strains have lost the gene responsible for producing this protein, making them undetectable through standard tests and leading to false-negative results.
In parts of the Horn of Africa, up to 80 percent of malaria cases have reportedly been missed due to this limitation, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of severe illness and death.
The newly approved tests target an alternative parasite protein known as pf-LDH, which the parasite cannot easily eliminate, offering a more reliable diagnostic option. WHO has recommended that countries switch to these tests when more than five percent of infections are missed due to HRP2 gene deletions.
The announcements coincide with the launch of the 2026 World Malaria Day campaign, themed “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” calling for urgent action to sustain progress and accelerate efforts toward elimination.
According to the World Malaria Report 2025, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths were recorded in 2024, marking an increase from the previous year. While 47 countries have been certified malaria-free and 37 reported fewer than 1,000 cases, global progress has slowed.
Health experts warn that gains are under threat from drug and insecticide resistance, diagnostic challenges and declining international funding.
Despite these setbacks, global efforts have prevented an estimated 2.3 billion malaria infections and saved around 14 million lives since 2000. Currently, 25 countries are rolling out malaria vaccines, while next-generation mosquito nets account for 84 percent of newly distributed nets, reflecting continued innovation in the fight against the disease.
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