Malaria is not just a regional problem

According to the WHO World Malaria Report of 2025, there were approximately 282 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2024. Of these cases, over 600,000 people lost their lives to the disease in that year alone. Ninety-four per cent of cases and 95% of deaths occurred on the African continent – thus, the burden of the disease currently falls in this region. However, this was not always the case. Until fairly recently, malaria was a very real problem across much of the world.

The UK was only declared ‘malaria-free’ by the WHO in 1963; the USA in 1970; and France in 1975. This is well within many of our lifetimes, and these countries (and many other ‘malaria-free’ countries) still face a significant number of cases of travel-associated or imported malaria each year.

 _{Table showing the cases of imported malaria in comparison to TB and measles - imported malaria is definitely a problem for the UK. (Data source: Malaria data – provisional numbers from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Malaria Reference Laboratory and Public Health Scotland. TB data from UKHSA. Measles data from UKHSA Measles: Historic confirmed cases, notifications and deaths report and UKHSA Data Dashboard for measles.)}

As shown in the above table, cases of imported malaria recorded in the UK in the past four years show that imported malaria cases are significant. Even and especially when compared to other diseases such as TB and measles. 

No room for complacency

Furthermore, just a few years ago BugBitten reported concerns about a resurgence of malaria in the USA and Europe, with cases of non-imported malaria reaching the news headlines. ‘Malaria-free’ countries therefore cannot afford to be complacent or to dismiss malaria as a problem for the ‘tropics’ alone.

The UK as a leader in malaria research and development

New research from Malaria No More and Impact Global Health shows that the UK is playing a key role in malaria research and development (R&D)

UK leadership is particularly strong in the development of malaria vaccines, with 31% of vaccines having UK involvement (second only to the USA). The UK is also instrumental in the development of 23.2% of malaria drugs currently in the pipeline.

The UK has a reputation as a leader in malaria research, often partnering with organisations in malaria-endemic countries to advance the development and implementation of vaccines, drugs and vector-control measures. This investment is crucial, particularly in the context of increasing antimalarial and insecticide resistance, as well as reductions in healthcare and research spending by many organisations. The 2025 WHO World Malaria Report noted a reversal in progress, with approximately 12,000 more malaria-related deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year. We cannot afford to reverse course.

Protecting funding for malaria R&D is an investment in global health and the UK economy

As part of their new research, and particularly on World Malaria Day, Malaria No More UK and Impact Global Health are calling on the UK Government to sustain investment in malaria R&D. This will not only help reduce the global impact of malaria, including in the UK, but will also support UK jobs, innovation, universities, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors - since 57% of malaria R&D spending remains within the UK. Malaria R&D is certainly a strong contributor to the UK’s overall science economy.

Cover image credit: Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay