New WHO treatments and tests launched to fight malaria
世界衛生組織推出對抗瘧疾的新療法與檢測工具
As of April 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled major breakthroughs in the fight against malaria.
截至2026年4月，世界衛生組織（WHO）公佈了對抗瘧疾的重大突破。
Coinciding with World Malaria Day, these innovations tackle critical gaps in care.
適逢世界瘧疾日，這些創新解決了照護上的關鍵缺口。
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.
首先，世衛組織預認證了一種新版青蒿素類複方藥物（artemether-lumefantrine），這是史上首款專為體重在2公斤至5公斤之間的新生兒及嬰兒所設計的抗瘧治療藥物。
Previously, clinicians lacked suitable options for this age group, which created high risks for toxicity.
過去，臨床醫師缺乏適合該年齡層的治療選擇，這造成極高的毒性風險。
This is a game-changer for 30 million babies born annually in malaria-endemic regions.
對於瘧疾流行地區每年出生的3000萬名嬰兒而言，這是一項改變遊戲規則的進展。
Second, to address the issue of "invisible" parasites, the WHO prequalified three new diagnostic tests.
其次，為了解決「隱形」寄生蟲的問題，世衛組織預認證了三種新的診斷測試。
Some malaria strains have evolved to stop producing the HRP2 protein, causing standard tests to miss cases.
某些瘧疾菌株已經演化到停止產生HRP2蛋白質，導致標準測試會漏診病例。
These new tests target the pf-LDH protein instead, ensuring more accurate detection.
這些新測試改為針對pf-LDH蛋白質，以確保更精確的檢測。
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.
雖然近期對抗瘧疾的進展陷入停滯——2024年因藥物抗藥性及資金減少報告了超過60萬例死亡——但這些進展帶來了新的希望。
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.
鑑於已有47個國家獲得無瘧疾認證，專家們相信，只要保持持續的政治與財政承諾，消滅這種疾病仍然是可以實現的目標。
