World Malaria Day – April 25, 2026

1. What Is Malaria?

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted primarily through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes (malaria mosquitoes). The disease can affect people of all ages, particularly those who travel to, live, or work in forested and mountainous areas, remote areas, and other regions where malaria mosquitoes are still present. However, young children and pregnant women are at greater risk of severe disease. If not detected and treated promptly, malaria can cause coma, jaundice, severe anemia, multiple organ damage, and may lead to death.

2. Signs and Symptoms of Malaria

Symptoms of malaria usually appear approximately 10–15 days after a person has traveled to an endemic area and been bitten by an infected malaria mosquito. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Chills or shivering, followed by high fever and profuse sweating as the fever subsides.
• Headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, or vomiting.
• In severe cases, patients may experience difficulty breathing, confusion or coma, seizures, reduced urine output, or jaundice.

Nowadays, malaria fever may not follow the typical pattern seen in the past. Therefore, these symptoms can easily be mistaken for dengue fever, influenza, or other febrile illnesses. If you develop a fever, especially after traveling through forests, staying overnight in forested areas, working, or traveling in areas where malaria is present, you should seek medical attention for examination, diagnostic testing, and treatment advice. Do not self-medicate or purchase medications without medical guidance.

3. Current Malaria Situation and Risks

Despite significant progress worldwide, malaria continues to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, with the majority occurring in Africa. In 2024, there were an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 malaria-related deaths globally, with the WHO African Region accounting for approximately 95% of both cases and deaths.

According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam has recorded fewer than 500 malaria cases per year over the past three years, with only 353 cases reported in 2024.

Thanks to years of sustained malaria prevention and control efforts, the number of malaria cases in Vietnam has declined dramatically compared with the past, and many provinces and cities have achieved malaria elimination targets. However, malaria has not been completely eliminated and sporadic cases continue to occur in some forested, mountainous, and border areas.

In addition to locally acquired cases in areas where malaria parasites remain endemic, the health sector continues to record malaria cases among people returning from malaria-endemic regions, such as certain countries in Africa, Laos, and Cambodia. Such “imported” cases, if not detected and treated promptly, may allow parasites to spread again in areas where malaria mosquitoes are still present, creating a risk of small-scale outbreaks.

Therefore, maintaining malaria prevention and control measures remains essential, particularly for people who frequently travel through forests, stay overnight in forested areas, work in border regions, or travel for work or tourism to countries or areas where malaria is endemic.

4. How to Prevent Malaria for Yourself and Your Family

To prevent malaria, people should adopt multiple preventive measures simultaneously:

• Sleep under a mosquito net, preferably an insecticide-treated bed net for people living in or traveling to malaria-endemic areas, particularly young children and pregnant women.
• Prevent mosquito bites during outdoor activities: wear long-sleeved clothing in light colors and use mosquito repellent creams or sprays when traveling through forests, staying overnight in forested areas, or working outdoors from dusk to dawn.
• Maintain a clean living environment: clear vegetation around the house, eliminate stagnant water, and cover water containers to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
• Participate in mosquito-control activities, including insecticide spraying and case surveillance organized by local health authorities.
• People planning to travel for work, business, or tourism to malaria-endemic areas should consult a healthcare facility about appropriate preventive measures, which may include malaria chemoprophylaxis when indicated.

5. Malaria Vaccines: A New Advancement but Not Yet Widely Used in Vietnam

Two malaria vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M, are currently recommended by WHO for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children living in malaria-endemic areas, with priority given to areas with moderate and high transmission, particularly in Africa. Both vaccines are considered safe and effective in reducing malaria cases and severe malaria caused by P. falciparum in children.

Malaria vaccine rollout is currently concentrated in African countries with a high malaria burden. WHO recommends that malaria vaccines be administered as part of a comprehensive malaria control strategy alongside other interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets, appropriate preventive measures, prompt diagnosis, and treatment.

In Vietnam, malaria vaccination has not been widely implemented. Therefore, at the present time, malaria vaccines represent an important global advancement, while local implementation will depend on future national guidance and malaria control strategies.

For now, the most important and practical measures remain: sleeping under a mosquito net, preventing mosquito bites, seeking early medical attention when fever develops after staying in or traveling to a malaria-endemic area, and receiving appropriate and complete treatment according to a healthcare professional’s instructions.

According to Master – Doctor Trần Đăng Khoa, Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC)

The information provided above is for reference purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. Please consult a physician for detailed medical advice.