Vector control
Vector control is a highly effective way to reduce malaria transmission and is a vital component of malaria control and elimination strategies.
Global Malaria Programme
The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria. Its work is guided by the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030" adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 and updated in 2025.
Prevention
Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. In areas with high malaria transmission, young children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria infection and death. Since 2000, expanded access to WHO-recommended malaria prevention tools and strategies – including effective vector control and the use of preventive antimalarial drugs – has had a major impact in reducing the global burden of this disease.
WHO Guidelines for malaria and guidance tools
The WHO Guidelines for malaria bring together all current WHO recommendations on malaria in one easy-to-navigate web-based platform. They are a living resource that will be updated periodically as new evidence becomes available. The Guidelines are available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
Key areas
Preventive chemotherapies
Preventive chemotherapy is the use of medicines, either alone or in combination, to prevent malaria infection and its consequences.
Vaccines
WHO recommends the use of malaria vaccines for the prevention of P. falciparum malaria in children living in malaria endemic areas.
Resources
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Publications
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11 December 2024
World malaria report 2024
Each year, the World malaria report serves as a vital tool to assess global progress and gaps in the fight against malaria. This year’s report provides...
13 February 2024
Operational manual on indoor residual spraying: Control of vectors of malaria, Aedes-borne diseases,...
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) involves applying residual insecticide to potential vector resting sites on the interior surfaces of human dwellings or...
16 January 2024
Community deployment of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine:...
Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is a long-standing WHO recommendation; however, according to...
Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito species that is capable of transmitting both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites. Unlike...
26 May 2023
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine in children: a field...
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is the intermittent administration of a curative dose of antimalarial medicine to children at high risk of severe...
22 June 2022
Manual for monitoring insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors and selecting appropriate interventions
Vector-borne diseases are major causes of sickness, disability and death worldwide. These diseases are caused by parasites, bacteria or viruses transmitted...