WHO Issues Urgent Warning on Growing Malaria Drug Resistance
Geneva, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday expressed serious concern over increasing global resistance to antimalarial drugs, possibly jeopardizing decades of progress against the deadly disease. Resistance has been confirmed in Rwanda, Uganda, Eritrea, adn Tanzania, with suspicions raised in four additional countries.
while malaria remains preventable and curable, WHO experts warn that escalating drug resistance threatens this capacity. Global malaria deaths have plateaued around 60 per 100,000 inhabitants since 2015, but a recent upward trend has emerged, with a slight increase in cases reported in 2024.
The majority of infections and deaths – approximately two-thirds – are concentrated in eleven African nations: Burkina Faso, cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. The resurgence of the disease in these areas is attributed to drug resistance, alongside contributing factors like climate change and regional conflicts.
The WHO is actively working to prevent the growth of resistance to other malaria treatments, echoing concerns from the 1980s and 90s surrounding chloroquine. “We have now reached a critical point in the treatment and prevention of malaria globally,” WHO experts stated.”The disease can be completely eradicated, but we must act urgently.”
The organization is calling for increased investment in research and development of next-generation medicines and vaccines, enhanced disease monitoring, and strengthened international collaboration.
funding shortages are exacerbating the crisis. A 21% reduction in development aid, largely due to decreased support from the United States, has already resulted in project cancellations and reductions. “We cannot fight an enemy we cannot see,” the WHO emphasized, reiterating the importance of continued disease surveillance despite budgetary constraints.
Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites and is not directly contagious between people. Symptoms range from mild fever, chills, and headache to severe complications including extreme fatigue, confusion, seizures, and breathing difficulties.
