Malaria

Egypt has been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization

3:02am October 23, 2024

Egypt has been fighting malaria for nearly 100 years. WHO declares a country malaria-free when the disease has not been present for at least three consecutive years before the designation.

Health & Safety

A surprising history of malaria is revealed by clues from ancient bones

3:38pm June 13, 2024

by Melody Schreiber

It's pretty amazing: bones from thousands of years ago yielded traces of malaria parasites. Disease historians are surprised by what they've learned.

Health officials at Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services study specimens of anopheles mosquitoes that cause malaria, in Sarasota, Fla. on June 30, 2023. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert after five cases of malaria were confirmed, the first locally acquired cases of the disease in the United States in 20 years.

New gene-editing tools may help wipe out mosquito-borne diseases

5:01am January 26, 2024

by Greg Allen

Scientists say gene-editing technology may eradicate a mosquito in the U.S. that spreads dengue and other diseases. Concerns remain about the possible environmental impact of bioengineered mosquitoes.

A nurse prepares to administer a newly approved malaria vaccine, RTS,S, to an infant at the health center in Datcheka, Cameroon, on Jan. 22. Cameroon is the first country in the vaccine campaign. Plans are to introduce the vaccine in 20 additional countries by 2025.

Health & Safety

The malaria vaccine that just rolled out has a surprise benefit for kids

6:02pm January 24, 2024

by Simar Bajaj

A new malaria vaccine came to Cameroon this week and will be introduced in 20 additional countries. Experts stress that it's not a magic bullet. But they say it's a game-changer — with a bonus.

Mosquitoes can carry viruses including dengue, malaria, chikungunya and Zika. They are a growing public health threat abroad and in the United States.

Health & Safety

The U.S. is unprepared for the growing threat of mosquito- and tick-borne viruses

5:41am December 15, 2023

by Pien Huang

Experts warn that new tropical viruses are headed for the U.S. – and the country should take active measures to fend them off.

Manmade pits at construction sites are providing nurseries for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, new research finds.

Big city mosquitoes are a big problem — and now a big target

7:04pm December 04, 2023

by Ari Daniel

Africa's cities have become home to an invasive, malaria-carrying mosquito. New research suggests vulnerabilities that could be exploited to take on the disease-bearing insects.

This former NPR intern shows off our mosquito costume. He'd no doubt rather bite into candy corn than a human arm.

Health & Safety

On Halloween, here's how to dress up as earth's scariest critter — with minimal prep

6:51am October 28, 2023

by Susan Brink

It's not a shark. It's not a lion. It's not a snake. And all you'll need is some pipe cleaners, sunglasses and gossamer wings.

A Kenyan child receives the world's first malaria vaccine, approved nearly two years ago. This week, the World Health Organization approved a second vaccine for the mosquito-borne disease. It's called R21/Matrix-M and is intended for children between 5 and 36 months, who are among the most vulnerable to the disease.

Health & Safety

A 'dream' come true: Now there are 2 vaccines to slash the frightful toll of malaria

4:28pm October 03, 2023

by Ari Daniel

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.Tedros, says he used to "dream of the day when we would have a ... vaccine against malaria. Now, we have two."

Bulbul Aktar, a shasthya kormi, or community health worker, with the malaria elimination program in Bangladesh, goes door to door to treat malaria patients. "This is my job, my duty," says Aktar. "Every single home, I have to know about them and visit them."

Malaria is on the ropes in Bangladesh. But the parasite is punching back

4:35pm September 20, 2023

by Ari Daniel

What does it take to beat malaria? Thousands of moccasins walking down rural roads, overnight bus rides for lab tests ... and a highly effective drug. But the parasite isn't going along with the plan.

Queue Listen Now

Mosquitoes spread malaria. Now researchers hope that a gene drive technology could turn them into malaria fighters. Although not every scientist thinks it's a good idea to genetically modify a wild animal.

Mosquitoes spread malaria. These researchers want them to fight it instead

5:05am July 20, 2023

by Geoff Brumfiel

Scientists have used a gene-editing technique to make mosquitos allies in the fight against malaria. Environmentalists are troubled by the idea of genetically modifying wild animals.