#worldmalariaday

Three-year-old Billy was brought to the Doctors Without Borders health post inside Nyarugusu refugee camp - she developed a fever and started vomiting. Her symptoms are typical of malaria: headache, joint pain, vomiting, and other flu like symptoms. MSF Nurse assistant Saidi tested Billy for the disease (a small pin-prick to her finger to get a blood sample, which is tested immediately, on-site, to see if the malaria parasites are present).

This kind of testing is the most reliable way of diagnosing malaria in the camp’s remote and basic environment: little training is needed in order to administer the test; no additional lab equipment is required; and the results are fast to interpret.

Young children are the most vulnerable to malaria - their bodies haven’t built up effective defense against the disease and they do not have fully developed immune systems. 

After her consultation, Billy is given her anti-malarial tablets and some water to take her first dose. MSF uses artemisinin-based combination therapy, which is the most effective malaria treatment. 

Tent to tent across the refugee camp, health promoters explain to refugees how to prevent malaria, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to seek treatment.

Today is World Malaria Day. Here’s six stories from NPR Goats and Soda that highlight the mosquito-borne disease: 

Courtesy of Andrew Hammond

Malaria Wiped Out In U.S. But Still Plagues U.S. Hospitals

Transmission was eliminated in the United States in the early 1950s. But a new report sees a surprising trend.

Drug-Resistant Malaria Turns Up In The U.K.

Artemisinin-based medications have long been the treatment of choice for malaria. But late in 2015, health officials in Britain came across a cluster of cases that refused to succumb to the drugs.

The Rainy Season Strategy To Stop Malaria

It's called Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. And so far, the results have been remarkable.

The New Debate Over Bed Nets And Malaria Prevention

Do they still help prevent disease caused by the bite of infected mosquitoes? A five-year study offers cause for concern as well as good news.

To Avoid Malaria, Try Sleeping With A Chicken At Your Bedside

A study finds that the Anopheles arabiensis species of mosquitoes, a major carrier of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, is repelled by the smell of chicken.

Monkey Malaria Creeps Closer To Being A Major Human Threat

A new paper raises concerns about possible changes in the parasite behind the strain, putting us at greater risk.

To Fight Malaria, Scientists Try Genetic Engineering To Wipe Out Mosquitoes

Malaria Is Still a Threat: What Every Family Should Know in 2026

Malaria continues to affect millions worldwide. Learn what the 2026 World Malaria Day theme means, the latest prevention strategies, common symptoms, and practical steps to protect yourself and your family.

Malaria may not dominate headlines today, but it remains one of the world’s most persistent infectious diseases. Spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes, it continues to impact millions of people every year, especially in tropical and developing regions. On World Malaria Day 2026, attention has turned to countries that eliminated malaria after meeting WHO standards. Their different paths show that sustained surveillance, public health systems and long-term planning remain crucial.