In plain words
Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to people by some types of mosquito. It is caused by a parasite and does not pass from person to person. It is preventable and curable.
Key facts
- WHO estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths in 80 countries in 2024, about 9 million more cases than in 2023.
- The WHO African Region had about 95% of cases and deaths. Children under 5 accounted for about 75% of malaria deaths in that region.
How it spreads
Mostly through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Blood transfusion and contaminated needles can also transmit it. Five Plasmodium species infect humans; P. falciparum is the deadliest and most common in Africa, and P. vivax is dominant in most countries outside sub-Saharan Africa. Untreated P. falciparum malaria can become severe and fatal within 24 hours.
Symptoms
Early symptoms are fever, headache and chills, usually starting 10 to 15 days after the bite, and they can be mild and hard to tell from other fevers, so early testing matters. Severe signs are extreme tiredness, impaired consciousness, repeated convulsions, difficulty breathing, dark or bloody urine, jaundice and abnormal bleeding. People with severe symptoms need emergency care right away.
Who is at higher risk
Infants, children under 5, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS. Malaria in pregnancy can cause premature delivery or low birth weight.
Prevention and treatment
WHO says malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines, and that early treatment of mild cases can stop them becoming severe.
Sources
- WHO fact sheet, Malaria, published 4 December 2025, read 9 October 2026.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026. Reviewer: none yet. This page is general education and is not medical advice. Figures are WHO's and may have been updated since.