Millions saved as malaria control tools expand and new solutions advance

Decades of malaria control have saved millions of lives through bed nets, indoor insecticide spraying, and effective medicines that reduce mosquito numbers and treat infected people.

Those proven tools continue to protect communities across sub-Saharan Africa and other high-risk regions, preventing countless infections each year. While malaria still causes more than half a million deaths annually, mostly among children, the long-term decline in cases shows the impact of sustained investment in prevention and treatment. Researchers and health agencies are now building on that progress by developing next-generation bed nets, new insecticides, and novel drugs to address rising resistance. Pilot programs for vaccines and genetically targeted mosquito control are also expanding, adding fresh tools to the fight.

The gains so far highlight how global partnerships, local health workers, and continued innovation are pushing malaria control forward, with the goal of reaching the most vulnerable and accelerating toward elimination.