The poster is a public health communication tool designed to prevent the transmission of diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika. The poster emphasises that Aedes mosquitoes bite aggressively during the day and sometimes at night, and recommends the key prevention strategies.
Accessed on 27.../08/2025.
more
The 'Mosquito Bite Prevention Poster – Kids' is an educational public health resource designed to teach children how to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Using clear, simple instructions and visual cues, the poster engages young audiences by emphasising practical prevention strategies, such ...as correctly applying insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and avoiding standing water where mosquitoes breed. This tool serves as a preventive guide for children and caregivers alike, encouraging health-conscious behaviours within the community.
Accessed on 27/08/2025.
more
Depending on the health profile of the traveller, the type of travel to be undertaken, and the place of transit and destination, travellers may face various health risks during travel. The International travel and health collection is an update of International travel and health (2012) and serves as... an entry point for other World Health Organization (WHO) publications that provide further information. Its primary target audience is travel health practitioners and travel health professionals, who provide health advice to travellers on appropriate precautions to be taken to minimize any travel-related health risks in unfamiliar environments, before, during and after travel. The guidance may also be of interest to health authorities who intend to support travel health professionals in their jurisdiction or develop
health advice for their population. It may also be of interest to travellers who wish to obtain such information for themselves as well as those working in the travel industry, such as agents and organizers, airlines and shipping companies.
Module 3 outlines the clinical features, geographical distribution and chemoprophylaxis against malaria, as well as personal protection measures against mosquitoes that travellers should take during their journey and at destinations, and treatment for those who are infected.
more
Published by the World Health Organization, International Travel and Health 2012 provides comprehensive guidance on the health risks associated with international travel, as well as practical measures to prevent or reduce adverse health outcomes. Although the book is primarily intended for medical a...nd public health professionals who advise travellers, it is also useful for travel agents, transport providers and informed travellers. It covers a variety of topics, such as preventing infectious diseases, environmental hazards, accident risks, vaccination requirements, malaria prophylaxis and travel medical kits. Particular attention is given to travellers visiting friends and relatives, those travelling at short notice, and those journeying to remote or high-risk destinations. Recommendations are based on individual health status, destination, travel duration and behaviour. The publication emphasises the shared responsibility of travellers, healthcare providers and the travel industry in promoting safe travel and minimising preventable illnesses. Online updates provide real-time information on outbreaks, vaccine guidance and disease distribution.
more
This website provides comprehensive guidance on vaccinations, malaria prevention and general health measures for travellers to tropical and developing regions. It emphasises two main vaccination criteria: the administrative requirements of the destination country and the actual health risks to the t...raveller. Malaria prevention measures include chemoprophylaxis (e.g. atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) and vector control methods such as insecticide-treated nets, insect repellents and environmental protection measures. Additional travel health risks covered include bites from other arthropods, envenomations, dog and mammal bites, food and water hygiene, traveller's diarrhoea, and considerations for pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions. It strongly recommends carrying a travel medical kit and having a pre-travel consultation. Overall, the document aims to minimise illness and ensure safe travel.
Accessed on 27/08/2025.
more
Pregnant travelers face numerous risks, notably increased susceptibility to or severity of multiple infections, including malaria. Because pregnant women residing in areas non-endemic for malaria are unlikely to have protective immunity, travel to endemic areas poses risk of severe illness and pregn...ancy complications, such as low birthweight and fetal loss. If travel to malaria-endemic areas cannot be avoided, preventive measures are critical. However, malaria chemoprophylaxis in pregnancy can be challenging, since commonly used regimens have varying levels of safety data and national guidelines differ. Furthermore, although chloroquine and mefloquine have wide acceptance for use in pregnancy, regional malaria resistance and non-pregnancy contraindications limit their use. Mosquito repellents, including N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and permethrin treatment of clothing, are considered safe in pregnancy and important to prevent malaria as well as other arthropod-borne infections such as Zika virus infection. Pregnant travelers at risk for malaria exposure should be advised to seek medical attention immediately if any symptoms of illness, particularly fever, develop.
more
This ECDC overview summarises the number of travel-associated malaria cases reported in the EU/EEA in 2023. The cases are based on confirmed reports through the EpiPulse platform and only include infections acquired outside mainland Europe. The data show the number of cases and the infection rate pe...r 100,000 travellers by country of infection. The aim is to inform public health authorities and travellers about malaria risk. Analyses are limited to locations with repeated cases or sufficient case numbers. Infection rates were calculated using IATA air travel data. The findings reflect reported cases only and do not imply ongoing transmission.
more
The eEML is a comprehensive, freely accessible online database containing information on essential medicine
This document provides an overview of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for Principal Recipients (PRs) of Global Fund grants, indicating their eligibility for procurement under the Global Fund's Quality Assurance Policy. The included products have been assessed and approved by the WHO Prequalifi...cation of Diagnostics Programme (WHO PQ), the relevant regulatory authorities of the GHTF founding members or the Global Fund Expert Review Panel for Diagnostics (ERPD). Updates are made based on new evidence and regulatory assessments.
more
The 2022 report reviews the global malaria diagnostics market and technological landscape to support Unitaid’s 2023–2027 strategy for quality malaria case management. The report highlights the stalled progress of malaria control efforts, the gaps in access to diagnostics and the public health im...plications of P. falciparum HRP2/3 gene deletions, which compromise the accuracy of the widely used HRP2-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The report analyses the malaria RDT market, noting supplier diversification, price trends and production shifts resulting from the pandemic. It also addresses the emerging point-of-care G6PD testing market, which is required to ensure the safe radical cure of P. vivax infections. It surveys technological innovation, including digital microscopy, hemozoin tests, nucleic acid detection and biosensors, while emphasising that RDTs and microscopy will remain the mainstay of case management in the near term. The report identifies market shortcomings, access barriers and opportunities to improve malaria case management and diagnostic coverage.
more
Malaria remains a significant global health concern, with 249 million cases and 408,000 deaths reported in 2022, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. The most vulnerable populations are children under five and pregnant women. Rapid and accurate diagnosis using microscopy or malaria rapid diagnostic test...s (mRDTs) is essential to ensure timely treatment, prevent severe disease and promote the rational use of antimalarial drugs. This UNICEF Technical Bulletin provides guidance on the procurement, quality assurance and selection of WHO-prequalified mRDTs, including considerations for areas with a high prevalence of pfhrp2/3 gene deletions. The bulletin also highlights UNICEF’s approach to sustainability, product verification and long-term arrangements with manufacturers, which ensure a reliable supply while supporting integrated child health management programmes. The bulletin serves as a valuable resource for countries, partners and programmes involved in the implementation of malaria case management and diagnostics.
more
Antimalarial chemotherapy is crucial for reducing morbidity, mortality, and drug resistance, and is the cornerstone of malaria control. Existing antimalarial drugs act at different stages of the parasite’s life cycle. These drugs range from classic agents such as chloroquine and quinine to newer a...rtemisinin derivatives. They include tissue schizonticides, blood schizonticides, gametocytocides, and sporontocides. Artemisinin and its derivatives are the most effective and fastest-acting treatment against drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, achieving rapid parasite clearance and reducing transmission potential. Other key drugs include mefloquine, halofantrine, proguanil, sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, atovaquone–proguanil, tetracyclines, clindamycin and azithromycin. Each of these drugs has a specific mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety profile and contraindications. Rational drug combinations and adherence to national treatment guidelines are essential for managing resistance, ensuring safety in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women, and optimising therapeutic outcomes in cases of both uncomplicated and severe malaria.
more
Combination therapy is a cornerstone of modern malaria treatment, particularly in the context of widespread multidrug resistance. Using two or more antimalarial drugs with different mechanisms simultaneously enhances efficacy, shortens treatment duration, improves compliance and delays the developme...nt of resistance. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as artemether–lumefantrine, artesunate–amodiaquine and artesunate–sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, are highly effective in rapidly clearing parasites and reducing gametocyte carriage. They are also generally well tolerated. Non-artemisinin combinations, quinine-based regimens and novel combinations (e.g. piperaquine–dihydroartemisinin) offer alternative therapeutic options, although clinical experience with these remains limited. Although ACTs are the preferred first-line treatment, factors such as cost, local drug resistance patterns, safety during pregnancy and paediatric use must inform implementation and policy decisions.
more
To mark the International Day of the African Child, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) celebrated the inclusion of three of its antimalarial medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the EML for Children (EMLc). These are two artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for... adults, children and infants, and a rectal artesunate formulation for the pre-referral treatment of severe malaria in young children. The approved therapies — pyronaridine–artesunate, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine and rectal artesunate — offer child-friendly formulations and are the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Inclusion in the EMLc facilitates national adoption, improves access to high-quality treatments and addresses the disproportionate malaria burden among children under five. This supports global efforts to reduce malaria mortality and advance elimination.
more
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and malaria remain significant public health challenges in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). In 2021, the region reported 1.7 million sepsis-related deaths, with 373,000 associated with bacterial AMR. High antibiotic consumption, particularly in high-income c...ountries, combined with rising usage in middle-income countries, has accelerated the emergence of drug-resistant infections. Malaria management is further complicated by biological threats, including vector insecticide resistance, PFHRP2/3 gene deletions, and antimalarial drug resistance, alongside insufficient trained personnel and limited molecular surveillance capacity. Effective strategies to address these challenges include strengthening regional and cross-border surveillance networks, designating WHO collaborating centers for molecular monitoring, enforcing national treatment policies, and raising public and healthcare provider awareness about rational antimalarial and antibiotic use. These measures, coupled with sustainable funding and enhanced therapeutic efficacy studies, are essential to reduce the development and spread of drug-resistant malaria and improve overall health outcomes in the EMR.
more
In 2022, a total of 6,131 confirmed malaria cases were reported across the EU/EEA. Of these, 5,375 had a known importation status and nearly all (99.8%) were travel-related. Only 13 infections were acquired within Europe, with seven occurring in France, three in Germany, two in Spain and one in Irel...and. A distinct seasonal peak was observed from July to September, reflecting travel to malaria-endemic regions. Notification rates were higher among men than women, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. France reported the highest number of cases, followed by Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium. After dropping sharply in 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, overall notification rates increased again in 2021 and 2022, reaching 0.8 cases per 100,000 people. These findings emphasise that malaria in Europe is predominantly an imported disease closely linked to international travel, with sporadic local transmission being rare.
more
Every two minutes, a child under the age of 5 dies from malaria. Under-five children accounted for 67 per cent of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2018. Most of them occurred in sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 24 million children were infected with its deadliest form. In addition to being the t...hird-deadliest infectious disease for children, malaria infection and the costs of treatment traps families in a cycle of illness, suffering and poverty.This year’s World Malaria Day is marred by the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak, which further threatens people’s lives and well-being. Public health officials are taking precautionary and often aggressive measures to limit transmission of this virus, including reductions in social movement, physical distancing, hand-washing and recommending the use of personal protection equipment in high-risk settings. However, while focusing on combating this disease, the world cannot afford to ignore other diseases, such as malaria.
more
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and ot...her problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual.
Addressing suffering involves taking care of issues beyond physical symptoms. Palliative care uses a team approach to support patients and their caregivers. This includes addressing practical needs and providing bereavement counselling. It offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
more
Asthma is a common breathing condition. Chances are that at least one in every fifth person will have it. People with asthma might have a cough, or wheeze and a feeling of tightness in their chests. A group of researchers from the United Kingdom teamed up with seven African countries to learn about ...the challenges that children living with asthma in Africa face. One part of their research focuses on air pollution specifically. This research indicates ways to deal with asthma triggers and help more people understand asthma and enjoy a normal active life.
more
The Community Health Academy works to train and grow the community health workforce. While we prioritize the health workers in the five countries where Last Mile Health works, we also share many of our products and services globally to support the health workforce.
The Academy’s scope is two-fo...ld:
Partner with governments to design, digitize, and deliver training for community and frontline health workers.
Partner with governments to train health leaders to effectively manage community health systems.
more