Malaria

Malaria is a serious illness that begins with a simple mosquito bite, but can quickly turn life-threatening, especially for children, pregnant women and people with weaker immune systems. Over the past two decades, investments in the Global Fund and bilateral programs have enabled critical progress, preventing and treating millions of cases worldwide.

263 Million

Malaria cases worldwide in 2023

173 Million

Malaria cases treated through the Global Fund partnership in 2024

162 Million

Insecticide-treated mosquito nets distributed in 2024

Every 60 seconds, a child dies of malaria

Children under 5 make up 76% of total deaths caused by malaria worldwide

In 2023, there were 263 million cases of malaria and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide. Of those deaths, 76% were children under 5.

3-year-old Gabriella plays on the bed in her home in Soa, Cameroon. A year prior, Gabriella fell ill with malaria and spent four days in the hospital. Eventually, Gabriella made a full recovery. But every year, hundreds of thousands of children around the world do not. The Global Fund/Vincent Becker

U.S. investments have produced a collective GDP increase of $90.3 billion in recipient countries—a 5.8x return for every dollar invested.

The Cost of Malaria—and the Value of Investment

Recent analysis found that achieving global malaria reduction targets by 2030 would increase international trade by $80.7 billion and produce an additional $1.5 billion in U.S. exports to malaria endemic countries.

$80.7 Billion

Increase in global trade by 2030

$1.5 Billion

Increase in U.S. exports

Innovations to end the malaria epidemic

The Global Fund invests in cutting-edge innovations that are transforming TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment:

Dual insecticide-treated nets

In addition to dual-active ingredient bed nets, malaria treatments are also benefiting from new antimalarial compounds and resistance-proof combinations.
In 2024, the Global Fund distributed 162 million insecticide-treated nets, which are 45% more effective than traditional nets and cost only 70 cents more.

Automated Al-powered microscopes

Whereas traditional microscopy involves time-consuming, labor-intensive examination of blood smears by trained technicians, Al-powered microscopes leverage machine learning algorithms to analyze blood samples within minutes, significantly reducing diagnostic turnaround times.

Combatting Drug Resistance

To combat drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum that threaten progress in malaria control, Novartis is spearheading the development of a number of treatments— each from a new class-and which could conserve the utility of current treatments.

These include Ganaplacide/Lumefantrine in Phase Ill clinical trials for acute uncomplicated malaria and Cipargamin in Phase Il clinical trials for severe malaria, as of 2025.

Community health workers administering prophylactic anti-malaria drugs to children under five years of age in Burkina Faso. one of the ten countries the most affected by malaria in the world. Malaria is the country's deadliest disease. The CPS campaign is supported by The Global Fund among other partners. The Global Fund / JB Russel / Panos

The rising threat of antibiotic resistance

Friends Chief Policy Officer Mark Lagon highlights the Global Fund’s crucial role in fighting antimicrobial resistance and advancing malaria control.

Global health starts at home: Diseases carried by mosquitoes are opportunistic and the more effectively we fight the disease abroad, the safer we are here at home. That’s why U.S. investments in global health matter. Learn more