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THE DISEASE

About Malaria

Nearly every minute, a child dies from malaria, a disease caused by a single mosquito bite. Malaria is preventable and treatable, with a life-saving, insecticide-treated bed net and other malaria prevention tools and treatment. Refugees, pregnant women, and children are most vulnerable to this disease.

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What is Malaria?

Malaria is transmitted to people through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes, which primarily bite at night and carry the life-threatening disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium. In 2020, there were 241 million new cases of malaria worldwide and 627,000 deaths, 77% of which were children under five. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. Most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. However, South-East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are also at risk.

The Global Malaria Map

A century ago, malaria existed nearly everywhere in the world. Since then, incredible progress has been made – and the malaria map is shrinking. In fact, we’re at a pivotal moment in history. With greater political commitments, sustained financial investments, and enhanced regional initiatives for malaria elimination, we can be the generation to beat malaria for good.

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Africa has the most malaria deaths.

The global malaria burden remains heavily concentrated in Africa. An estimated 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths occur in the region. Nearly half of the people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to an insecticide-treated bed net.

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Progress in Asia

In 2015, 1.4 billion people were at risk of contracting malaria in Southeast Asia, with 1.5 million confirmed cases occurring in the region. But progress has been made: the Maldives and Sri Lanka have recently been declared malaria-free.

Progress in Asia

In 2015, 1.4 billion people were at risk of contracting malaria in Southeast Asia, with 1.5 million confirmed cases occurring in the region. But progress has been made: the Maldives and Sri Lanka have recently been declared malaria-free.

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Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean

A crucial goal toward ending malaria for good is working to eliminate malaria in the Americas, where the disease lingers in certain regions due to insufficient funding, political will, or technical capacity. As the Americas work to address mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, malaria, and more, it is crucial that the U.S. help strengthen these health systems before they creep across borders.

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Know the Facts
So much progress has been made in the fight against malaria, but we still have work to do. Hover over each block to learn more.
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How We Take Action

Insecticide-treated bed nets create a barrier against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, killing the mosquitoes before they can transmit the disease. We work with our UN partners to purchase life-saving bed nets and distribute them to families.

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