BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported a total of 26,064,143 malaria cases, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease across the country. Official figures also indicate that there were 29,938 malaria-related fatalities during the same year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, shared these statistics during the launch of a mass treatment initiative in Ituri province. The campaign targets regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and places significant strain on healthcare services.
The government rolled out the Ituri project in the health zones of Bunia, Nyakunde, Mungwalu, and Rwampara. This four-day intervention aims to reach more than one million individuals with antimalarial drugs. During the first half of 2026, Ituri alone documented over 373,000 malaria cases and 106 deaths. The health teams are leveraging this effort to lower the number of infections and fever cases within affected communities. Additionally, officials aim to enhance the capacity of health facilities to diagnose other severe illnesses more promptly when patients present symptoms similar to malaria.
Malaria’s burden in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains among the highest globally. Projections for 2024 estimate 282 million infections worldwide, resulting in approximately 610,000 deaths. Africa accounted for roughly 95% of both cases and fatalities. The DRC contributed 11.7% to the total malaria death toll in the African continent. Young children under five continue to be the most affected demographic, emphasizing the disease’s devastating impact on the continent’s youngest populations in areas with ongoing transmission.
Malaria Continues to Pose a Major Public Health Threat
The primary mode of malaria transmission is through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Typical symptoms include fever, chills, and headaches, but severe cases can lead to seizures, respiratory difficulties, and profound weakness. The most dangerous malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for the majority of transmissions across Africa. Early detection and immediate treatment are crucial in preventing many severe cases and fatalities. Strategies such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, prophylactic medicines, indoor residual spraying, and community-driven interventions are essential components in efforts to cut transmission rates and reduce exposure to infected mosquitoes.
In October 2024, the DRC broadened its malaria response by introducing the R21 vaccine. The initial phase was launched in Kongo Central after the country received 693,500 vaccine doses for children. This rollout aimed to immunize 173,375 children in 31 health zones. The World Health Organization supported the vaccine’s rollout alongside national health authorities and partners. Vaccination serves as an additional preventive measure alongside existing methods such as mosquito nets, preventive medication, testing, and artemisinin-based treatments for confirmed malaria cases.
Supplementing Prevention with Treatment Campaigns
The national malaria strategy spanning 2024 to 2028 integrates multiple approaches to tackle persistent transmission in vulnerable communities. Planned initiatives include deploying newer insecticide-treated nets, providing preventive treatment for pregnant women and infants, and conducting a seasonal malaria chemoprevention pilot. The strategy also encompasses indoor residual spraying, larval control, rapid diagnostic testing, and administering recommended antimalarial medications. Surveillance activities and community participation are integral to the comprehensive framework. The goal set by authorities is to safeguard 80% of populations at risk from malaria.
The 2025 statistics reflect the latest data from the country’s malaria program and differ from international modeled estimates. These figures demonstrate that malaria continues to afflict tens of millions across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ongoing Ituri mass treatment effort is now part of a broader strategy that includes vaccination, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Health officials remain focused on directing resources toward high-transmission areas to curb infections, severe illness, and mortality associated with malaria.