KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo documented a total of 26,064,143 malaria infections, alongside 29,938 fatalities attributed to the disease. The figures were disclosed by Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, during a campaign launch in Ituri province. Dembo emphasized that malaria continues to be the nation’s primary public health issue, with these new numbers underscoring a significant disease burden in one of Africa’s most malaria-affected countries.
The National Malaria Control Programme released these statistics amid expanded malaria response activities in Ituri. Dembo stated that control measures must persist while authorities enhance interventions that have already demonstrated success. He also urged for tailored approaches suited to the conditions in individual health zones. The Ituri initiative primarily involves mass administration of antimalarial drugs, launched as part of broader efforts for malaria prevention and treatment. The programme oversees national strategies aimed at reducing infections, severe illnesses, and fatalities caused by malaria.
According to World Health Organization, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths occurred globally in 2024. Africa accounted for about 95% of both the cases and deaths, with approximately 265 million cases and 579,000 deaths recorded in the region. The Democratic Republic of the Congo contributed to 11.7% of malaria-related deaths in Africa. WHO data reveals that children under five years old represent roughly three-quarters of all malaria deaths across the continent. These statistics place the DRC among the countries with the highest malaria burden worldwide.
Malaria’s Impact Continues to Concentrate in Africa
Malaria is primarily transmitted through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, and it remains both preventable and treatable. Early symptoms typically include fever, chills, and headaches, but severe infections can lead to breathing difficulties, seizures, extreme fatigue, and loss of consciousness. The deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is also the most common species across Africa. To mitigate transmission and prevent severe cases, health authorities rely on mosquito nets, medications, testing, and treatment. Prompt diagnosis is crucial because untreated falciparum malaria can quickly become life-threatening.
In October 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo incorporated the R21 malaria vaccine into its national immunization schedule. The initial rollout took place in Kongo Central province after receiving 693,500 vaccine doses, targeting 173,375 children across 31 health zones. The World Health Organization supported this introduction alongside national health authorities and other health partners. The vaccine complements existing measures like insecticide-treated nets, preventive medicines, diagnosis, and treatment, providing an additional tool to protect young children from malaria.
Vaccination Efforts Enhance National Control Strategies
The country’s 2024-2028 National Strategic Plan combines multiple interventions targeting high-risk communities. These include the broader distribution of newer insecticide-treated mosquito nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women and infants, and a pilot program for seasonal malaria chemoprevention. Additional measures involve indoor residual spraying, larval control, rapid diagnostic testing, and artemisinin-based treatments. The plan also emphasizes malaria surveillance and community participation, aiming to safeguard 80% of populations at risk.
The case and death figures for 2025 reported by Dembo derive from the national malaria programme’s data, distinct from WHO’s modeled global estimates for 2024. These latest figures clearly show that malaria continues to affect millions across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The response includes drug administration, vaccination, mosquito control, preventive medicines, and diagnostic services. The Ituri campaign introduces mass antimalarial drug administration to these efforts as part of ongoing initiatives to reduce disease incidence and mortality.