New WHO treatments and tests launched to fight malaria

As of April 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled major breakthroughs in the fight against malaria.

Coinciding with World Malaria Day, these innovations tackle critical gaps in care.

First, the WHO prequalified a new version of artemether-lumefantrine, the first-ever antimalarial treatment specifically for newborns and infants weighing between 2 kg and 5 kg.

Previously, clinicians lacked suitable options for this age group, which created high risks for toxicity.

This is a game-changer for 30 million babies born annually in malaria-endemic regions.

Second, to address the issue of "invisible" parasites, the WHO prequalified three new diagnostic tests.

Some malaria strains have evolved to stop producing the HRP2 protein, causing standard tests to miss cases.

These new tests target the pf-LDH protein instead, ensuring more accurate detection.

While progress against malaria has recently stalled—with over 600,000 deaths reported in 2024 due to drug resistance and declining funding—these advancements offer renewed hope.

With 47 countries already certified malaria-free, experts believe that with sustained political and financial commitment, eliminating the disease is a goal we can still achieve.