World Malaria Day is marked every year on 25 April to highlight global efforts to control and eventually eliminate malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and spread by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The day is led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners as a fixed point in the year to review progress, address setbacks and keep malaria high on the public health agenda.
Why it matters
Malaria remains a major cause of sickness and death in many endemic countries, especially for young children and pregnant women, even though it is both preventable and treatable. In affected communities, repeated malaria episodes contribute to anaemia, poor growth and missed school or work, keeping families in a cycle of ill health and poverty. Proven tools such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying and prompt use of diagnostic tests and effective medicines have reduced deaths in many settings, but progress has slowed in recent years where coverage is incomplete or fragile. World Malaria Day reminds decision-makers and families that continued vigilance and investment are needed to prevent a resurgence.
History
World Malaria Day has been observed annually on 25 April since 2008, when WHO member states agreed to set aside this date each year to recognise the global burden of malaria and mobilise stronger action. The observance grew out of earlier regional initiatives and was formalised as a global health day to provide a common platform for awareness campaigns, technical updates and community-level activities. Over time, it has helped align governments, donors and civil society around shared targets for reducing malaria illness and deaths through expanded prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Key facts
Common conditions
- uncomplicated malaria
- severe malaria
- Plasmodium falciparum infection
- Plasmodium vivax infection
- fever with chills
- malaria in pregnancy
Who is most affected
- young children in endemic areas
- pregnant women
- people living in forested or hilly regions
- low-income rural households
- communities with limited access to health services
What you can do
- sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
- seek malaria testing quickly for any unexplained fever
- complete all prescribed antimalarial medicines
- cooperate with household spraying programmes
- learn about local malaria risk before travel
In Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, malaria cases are concentrated in the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari, where ecological conditions favour the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit the disease. Government programmes and partners distribute free long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, carry out indoor spraying in selected areas and use rapid diagnostic tests to confirm cases quickly so that treatment can start without delay. World Malaria Day is used to reinforce these efforts, raise awareness among hill communities about early care-seeking for fever and encourage consistent net use to reduce transmission further.
Frequently asked questions
- How does malaria spread?
- Malaria spreads through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium parasites.
- Which areas of Bangladesh have the highest malaria risk?
- The Chittagong Hill Tracts districts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari have the highest malaria burden in Bangladesh.
- Can malaria be prevented?
- Yes, using insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying, and seeking prompt treatment for fever greatly reduces risk.