History of Malaria in Timeline
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, causing symptoms like fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. Severe cases can lead to jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms typically appear 10-15 days post-infection. Untreated cases may recur months later. Reinfection in previously infected individuals often results in milder symptoms, though this partial resistance wanes without continued exposure. Plasmodium infections also negatively affect the mosquito vector, reducing its lifespan.
1900: Confirmation of Finlay and Ross findings
In 1900, the findings of Finlay and Ross were confirmed by a medical board headed by Walter Reed.
1900: Change in temperature and rainfall over Africa
Since 1900 there has been substantial change in temperature and rainfall over Africa, impacting malaria conditions.
1902: Ross receives Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1902, Ronald Ross received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for proving the life-cycle of the malaria parasite in mosquitoes.
1907: Laveran awarded Nobel Prize
In 1907, Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries related to malaria.
1910: Publication of 'The Prevention of Malaria in War'
In 1910, Nobel Prize winner Sir Ronald Ross published "The Prevention of Malaria" that included a chapter by Colonel C. H. Melville, Professor of Hygiene at Royal Army Medical College in London, that the history of malaria in war might almost be taken to be the history of war itself.
1917: Use of Plasmodium vivax for malariotherapy
Plasmodium vivax was used between 1917 and the 1940s for malariotherapy, the deliberate injection of malaria parasites.
1927: Wagner-Jauregg receives Nobel Prize for malariotherapy
In 1927, Julius Wagner-Jauregg received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries related to malariotherapy.
1942: Establishment of Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA)
In 1942, the Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA) was established to control malaria around military training bases in the southern United States and its territories.
1946: Establishment of the Communicable Disease Center (CDC)
In 1946, the Communicable Disease Center (now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC) was established as the successor to the Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA).
1950: National Malaria Eradication Effort in Paraguay
In 1950, Paraguay began a national malaria eradication effort, which later led to its certification as malaria-free by the WHO in 2018.
1951: United States eradicated malaria
In 1951, the United States eradicated malaria as a major public health concern.
1955: WHO launched the Global Malaria Eradication Program (GMEP)
In 1955, the WHO launched the Global Malaria Eradication Program (GMEP).
1963: Reduction of malaria cases in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the malaria eradication program reduced cases from about one million per year before spraying to just 18 in 1963.
1964: Low malaria cases in Sri Lanka after program implementation
In 1964, Sri Lanka reported only 29 malaria cases after the implementation of the eradication program.
1965: GDP Increase Comparison
From 1965 to 1990, countries with common malaria had an average per capita GDP increase of only 0.4% per year, compared to 2.4% per year in other countries.
1967: First Promising Malaria Vaccine Studies
In 1967, the first promising studies demonstrating the potential for a malaria vaccine were performed by immunising mice with live, radiation-attenuated sporozoites.
1968: Malaria rebound in Sri Lanka
In 1968, malaria rebounded to 600,000 cases in Sri Lanka after the program was halted to save money.
1969: WHO suspended the Global Malaria Eradication Program
In 1969, the WHO suspended the Global Malaria Eradication Program due to vector and parasite resistance and other factors.
1969: Malaria cases in first quarter of 1969 in Sri Lanka
In the first quarter of 1969, there were 600,000 malaria cases in Sri Lanka.
1990: GDP Increase Comparison
From 1965 to 1990, countries with common malaria had an average per capita GDP increase of only 0.4% per year, compared to 2.4% per year in other countries.
1993: Malaria deaths in Europe
Between 1993 and 2003, about 900 people died from malaria in Europe.
1995: GDP Comparison
In 1995, average per capita GDP adjusted for parity of purchasing power was five times higher in countries without malaria compared to those with malaria.
2000: Global mortality rate for malaria fell by 60% between 2000 and 2015
According to the WHO's World Malaria Report 2015, the global mortality rate for malaria fell by 60% between 2000 and 2015.
2000: Global malaria mortality decline
Between 2000 and 2019, malaria mortality rates among all ages halved from about 30 to 13 per 100,000 population at risk.
2000: WHO certified countries as malaria-free
Between 2000 and June 2021, twelve countries were certified by the WHO as being malaria-free.
2000: ITN Protection for African Children
In 2000, 1.7 million (1.8%) African children living in areas where malaria is common were protected by an insecticide-treated net (ITN).
2000: Increased support for malaria eradication
Since 2000, support for malaria eradication increased.
2000: Reduction of Malaria Cases
Since 2000, the six Greater Mekong Subregion countries achieved a 97% and 90% reduction of malaria cases respectively.
2000: Increased use of ITNs
Since 2000, the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) has increased through accelerated production, procurement and delivery.
2002: Publication of Plasmodium falciparum Genome Sequence
In the year 2002, the genome of Plasmodium falciparum was sequenced and published.
2003: Locally acquired malaria cases in Florida
In 2003, eight cases of locally acquired P. vivax malaria were identified in Florida, marking a re-emergence of local transmission in the United States.
2004: ITN Distribution Globally
Since 2004, over 2.5 billion insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been distributed globally, with 87% (2.2 billion) distributed in sub-Saharan Africa.
2006: WHO Recommends Insecticides for IRS
As of 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 12 insecticides in Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) operations, including DDT and the pyrethroids cyfluthrin and deltamethrin.
2006: Malaria No More set a public goal of eliminating malaria from Africa
In 2006, the organization Malaria No More set a public goal of eliminating malaria from Africa by 2015.
2007: Increased ITN Usage
In 2007, 20.3 million (18.5%) African children were using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), leaving 89.6 million children unprotected.
2007: World Malaria Day was established
In 2007, World Malaria Day was established by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly.
2007: WHO Applied for Funds to the Gates Foundation
In 2007, the WHO applied for funding from the Gates Foundation to support malaria eradication efforts.
2008: ITNs Save Infant Lives in Sub-Saharan Africa
Between 2000 and 2008, the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) saved the lives of an estimated 250,000 infants in Sub-Saharan Africa.
2009: Countries with highest death rate per 100,000 of population
In 2009, countries with the highest death rate per 100,000 of population were Ivory Coast (86.15), Angola (56.93) and Burkina Faso (50.66).
2010: Deadliest countries per population
A 2010 estimate indicated the deadliest countries per population were Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Mali.
2010: Decrease in Malaria Rates
From 2010 to 2014, rates of malaria disease decreased.
2010: China Announces Malaria Elimination Strategy
In 2010, the government of China announced a strategy to pursue malaria elimination in the Chinese provinces.
2011: ITN Usage in Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2011, less than 40% of children in sub-Saharan Africa were sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs).
2012: Substandard Antimalarial Medications
A 2012 study demonstrated that roughly one-third of antimalarial medications in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa failed chemical analysis, packaging analysis, or were falsified.
2012: Global Fund distributes insecticide-treated nets
As of 2012, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has distributed 230 million insecticide-treated nets intended to stop mosquito-borne transmission of malaria.
2013: WHO Sets Goal for Malaria Transmission-Blocking Vaccines
In 2013, WHO and the malaria vaccine funders group set a goal to develop vaccines designed to interrupt malaria transmission with malaria eradication's long-term goal.
2013: Resistance to artemisinin and piperaquine detected
In 2013, resistance to the combination of artemisinin and piperaquine was first detected in Cambodia, marking a significant challenge in malaria treatment.
2014: Decrease in Malaria Rates
From 2010 to 2014, rates of malaria disease decreased.
2014: Tajikistan reports last indigenous malaria case
In 2014, Tajikistan reported the last indigenous malaria case in the WHO European Region, making the region malaria-free since 2015.
2015: Malaria deaths reduced by 60% since 2000
According to the WHO and UNICEF, deaths attributable to malaria in 2015 were reduced by 60% from a 2000 estimate of 985,000, largely due to the widespread use of insecticide-treated nets and artemisinin-based combination therapies.
2015: Increase in Malaria Cases
Between 2015 and 2020, 15 countries reported an increase of 40% or more in malaria cases.
2015: Percentage of African Children Using Mosquito Nets
By 2015, 68% of African children were using mosquito nets.
2015: Tu Youyou received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
In 2015, Tu Youyou received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on malaria and the discovery of artemisinins.
2015: WHO targeted a 90% reduction in malaria deaths by 2030
In 2015, the WHO targeted a 90% reduction in malaria deaths by 2030.
2015: First Malaria Vaccine Approved
In 2015, the first malaria vaccine, called RTS,S, was approved by European regulators.
2015: Malaria and Nematode Co-infection Study
In a study conducted in 2015, researchers observed a specific interaction between malaria and co-infection with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in mice. The co-infection was found to reduce the virulence of the Plasmodium parasite due to increased destruction of erythrocytes.
2015: Target 6C of the Millennium Development Goals
Target 6C of the Millennium Development Goals included reversal of the global increase in malaria incidence by 2015, with specific targets for children under five years old.
2015: Goal of eliminating malaria from Africa not accomplished
The goal of eliminating malaria from Africa by 2015, set by Malaria No More in 2006, was not accomplished.
2016: Bill Gates thought global eradication would be possible by 2040
In 2016, Bill Gates said that he thought global eradication would be possible by 2040.
2017: Reduction in Malaria Endemic Countries
From 1900 to 2017, the number of countries where malaria was endemic decreased from 200 to 86.
2017: Bacterial Strain Genetically Modified to Prevent Malaria
In 2017, a bacterial strain of the genus Serratia was genetically modified to prevent malaria in mosquitos.
2017: Malaria caseload in India
In 2017, malaria caseload in India was 6.4 million and deaths were estimated at 11,100.
2018: Malaria No More organization still functioning
As of 2018, the Malaria No More organization is still functioning, despite their initial plan to dissolve if the goal of eliminating malaria from Africa by 2015 was accomplished.
2018: Paraguay Declared Free of Malaria
In 2018, WHO announced that Paraguay was free of malaria, after a national malaria eradication effort that began in 1950.
2019: Household ITN Sufficiency
According to UNICEF, in 2019, only 36% of households had sufficient insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for all household members.
2019: Argentina and Algeria declared free of malaria
In 2019, Argentina and Algeria were declared free of malaria.
2019: Children under five account for 67% of malaria deaths worldwide
In 2019, children under five years old accounted for 67% of malaria deaths worldwide.
2019: ITN Delivery Decreases
In 2021, manufacturers delivered about 220 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to malaria endemic countries, a decrease of 9 million ITNs compared with 2020 and 33 million less than were delivered in 2019.
2019: Identification of Essential Genes in Liver Stage
In research conducted in 2019, genes that are potentially essential in the liver stage of Plasmodium berghei were identified using experimental analysis with knockout mutants, including seven metabolic subsystems.
2019: Update of P. falciparum endemicity map
The Malaria Atlas Project published an update in 2019 of a map of P. falciparum endemicity.
2019: Number of malaria deaths increased between 2019 and 2020
UNICEF reported that the number of malaria deaths for all ages increased by 10% between 2019 and 2020, in part due to service disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 2020: Correlation between Malaria and COVID-19 Case Fatality Rates
A review article published in December 2020 noted a correlation between malaria-endemic regions and lower COVID-19 case fatality rates.
2020: RTS,S Vaccine Reduces Malaria Risk
As of 2020, the RTS,S vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of malaria by about 40% in children in Africa. A preprint study of the R21 vaccine has shown 77% vaccine efficacy.
2020: Further Reduction in Malaria Endemic Countries
By 2020, a further reduction of 20 countries occurred in the number of malaria endemic countries.
2020: Regional Disparities in Meeting WHO Malaria Goals
In 2020, Southeast Asia was on track to meet WHO's malaria goals, while Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, and West Pacific regions were off-track.
2020: WHO Goals for Malaria
In 2020, it was estimated that 31 out of 92 endemic countries were on track with the WHO goals for malaria.
2020: ITN Delivery Decreases
In 2021, manufacturers delivered about 220 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to malaria endemic countries, a decrease of 9 million ITNs compared with 2020 and 33 million less than were delivered in 2019.
2020: The 2020 goal was missed with a slight increase in cases compared to 2015
The WHO targeted a further 90% reduction between 2015 and 2030, with a 40% reduction and eradication in 10 countries by 2020. However, the 2020 goal was missed with a slight increase in cases compared to 2015.
April 2021: WHO E-2025 Initiative
Ahead of World Malaria Day, 25 April 2021, WHO named 25 countries in which it is working to eliminate malaria by 2025 as part of its E-2025 initiative.
June 2021: El Salvador and China Declared Malaria-Free
In June 2021, El Salvador and China were declared malaria-free.
2021: Cochrane Review on Ivermectin and Malaria
A 2021 Cochrane review found that community administration of ivermectin has not been shown to have a significant impact on reducing incidence of malaria transmission.
2021: Number of countries with endemic malaria
As of 2021, 84 countries have endemic malaria.
2021: Increase in Malaria Rates
From 2015 to 2021, rates of malaria disease increased after a decrease from 2010 to 2014.
2021: USAID Funds Development of Lethal House Lure
In 2021, In2Care BV received funding from the United States Agency for International Development to develop a ventilation tube with insecticide-treated netting, aiming to lure and kill insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.
2021: ITN Delivery Decreases
In 2021, manufacturers delivered about 220 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to malaria endemic countries, a decrease of 9 million ITNs compared with 2020 and 33 million less than were delivered in 2019.
2021: Low Testing Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2021, only about 28% of children with a fever in sub-Saharan Africa received medical advice or a rapid diagnostic test, with disparities based on wealth and region.
2021: R21/Matrix-M Vaccine Demonstrates 77% Efficacy
In 2021, researchers reported findings from a Phase IIb trial of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which demonstrated efficacy of 77% over 12-months of follow-up, meeting the WHO's goal of a vaccine with at least 75% efficacy.
2021: WHO estimates malaria cases and deaths
In 2021, the WHO estimated 247 million total cases of malaria resulting in 619,000 deaths.
2021: WHO Confirms Malaria Elimination in China
In 2021, the World Health Organization confirmed that China has eliminated malaria.
2021: WHO Conditionally Recommends House Screening
In 2021, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guideline Development Group conditionally recommended screening houses to reduce malaria transmission, noting local considerations.
2021: ITN Usage in Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2021, the percentage of children sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in sub-Saharan Africa increased to over 50%.
2021: Funding for malaria control and elimination
In 2021, the total of international and national funding for malaria control and elimination was $3.5 billion.
2021: Minor decline in malaria deaths in 2021
UNICEF reported a minor decline in malaria deaths in 2021.
December 2022: BioNTech Initiates Phase 1 Study of mRNA-based Malaria Vaccine
In December 2022, Germany-based BioNTECH SE initiated a Phase 1 study [clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05581641] of its mRNA-based malaria vaccine, BN165, based on the circumsporozite protein (CSP).
2022: Monoclonal Antibody Offers Protection Against Malaria
A 2022 clinical trial shows that a monoclonal antibody mAb L9LS offers protection against malaria. It binds the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP-1), essential to disease, and makes it ineffective.
2022: Malaria Cases and Deaths Worldwide
In 2022, there were approximately 249 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in an estimated 608,000 deaths, primarily affecting children under five.
March 2023: Azerbaijan and Tajikistan Certified Malaria-Free
In March 2023, the WHO certified Azerbaijan and Tajikistan as malaria-free.
May 2023: Locally acquired malaria cases in the United States
In May 2023, locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria occurred in the United States in four cases, as well as one case in Texas.
June 2023: Belize Certified Malaria-Free
In June 2023, Belize was certified as malaria-free by the WHO.
2023: WHO Endorses Two Malaria Vaccines
As of 2023, two malaria vaccines have been endorsed by the World Health Organization for use against malaria.
2023: Two Malaria Vaccines Licensed
As of 2023, two malaria vaccines have been licensed for use.
2023: Delftia tsuruhatensis Naturally Prevents Malaria Development
In 2023, it was reported that the bacterium Delftia tsuruhatensis naturally prevents the development of malaria by secreting a molecule called Harmane.
2023: WHO Confirms Malaria Elimination in Several Countries
In 2023, the World Health Organization confirmed that Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Belize have eliminated malaria.
2023: Malaria caseload in India slashed
In 2023, the malaria caseload in India was slashed by 69 per cent from 6.4 million in 2017 to two million. Similarly, the estimated malaria deaths decreased from 11,100 to 3,500 (a 68-per cent decrease) in the same period.
January 2024: Cabo Verde Certified Malaria-Free
In January 2024, Cabo Verde was certified as malaria-free, bringing the total number of malaria-free countries and territories to 44.
October 2024: WHO Certified Egypt to be malaria-free
In October 2024, the WHO certified Egypt to be malaria-free.
2025: Greater Mekong Subregion Elimination Goal
The six Greater Mekong Subregion countries aim for elimination of P. falciparum transmitted malaria by 2025 and elimination of all malaria by 2030.
2030: Forecasted Revenues for BioNTech's Malaria Vaccine
A recent commercial assessment forecast potential gross revenues of BNT-165 at $479m (2030) 5-yrs post launch, POS-adjusted revenues.
2030: WHO targeted a 90% reduction in malaria deaths by 2030
In 2015, the WHO targeted a 90% reduction in malaria deaths by 2030.
2030: End malaria epidemic in all countries
One of the targets of Goal 3 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals is to end the malaria epidemic in all countries by 2030.
2030: Greater Mekong Subregion Elimination Goal
The six Greater Mekong Subregion countries aim for elimination of all malaria by 2030.
2040: Bill Gates said that he thought global eradication would be possible by 2040
In 2016, Bill Gates said that he thought global eradication would be possible by 2040.
2050: Potential Elimination of Malaria
Experts suggest that malaria could be eliminated as a wild disease of humans by the year 2050.
