News
WHO published an infographic about the continuing deployment of the two anti-malaria vaccines approved by it. The infographic can be accessed at https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/topics/diseases-and-conditions/malaria/malaria-infographic-december2026.jpg?sfvrsn=5173566b_7
Malaria No More, a US based NGO, named William Steiger Ph.D. as its now CEO in December 2025 (https://www.malarianomore.org/resource/malaria-no-more-appoints-dr-william-bill-steiger-as-chief-executive-officer) Dr. Steiger was Chief of Staff of USAID during the first Trump administration. In an interview on 2 February (https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/g-s1-107461/global-health-malaria-bill-steiger-trump) he made two seemingly contradictory remarks: while supporting the dismantling of USAID and reducing governmental assistance to international health, which he characterized as being “more targeted, more efficient,” he also stated: “I remain fundamentally optimistic, but sometimes I worry that we're not moving fast enough. The U.S. investment in malaria in particular is not just good for the soul, it's actually good for our collective wallet. Every dollar invested by the United States in malaria control in Africa generates $5.80 in economic growth, which outperforms most investments you can get on the market. We can win this fight, and we actually benefit at the same time.”
“In recent years, there has been a proliferation of new terms in relation to malaria in scientific literature, technical reports and the media. Concurrently, a number of terms with new or modified use and meaning have been introduced.” On 17 February, WHO published its WHO Malaria Terminology 2025 (Reference Number WHO/HTM/GMP/2016.6). It is available for downloading at https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/dfcba4db-c691-4e58-9368-67d0c6ebcd49/content
Peer Reviewed Articles
Prevention
Vaccines
Friedman-Klabanoff DJ & al. tested sera from individuals vaccinated with RTS,S vaccine and a new vaccine against the whole circumsporozoite protein (CSP) for antibodies Then they established the specific target protein against which the antibodies were active. They report in Vaccine-Induced Antibodies to a C-Terminal Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein Epitope Associated with Protection Against Malaria Challenge, J Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 17; 233(1):178-190, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf391 that the antibodies test subjects who received RTS,S were nonetheless also targeting regions in the CSP that were not part of the vaccine preparation. Apparently, the antibodies produced by test subjects who received the total CSP vaccine were less abundant than those generated by RTS,S.
Cortaredona S & al. investigated “both shared and vaccine-specific determinants of malaria vaccination intention, comparing them with those influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake.” They report in Exploring Factors Affecting Malaria Vaccination Intention and COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake: Evidence from a Joint Analysis in Rural Senegal, BMC Public Health. 2026 Jan 9, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-26100-x that “COVID-19-vaccinated individuals were 60% … more likely to report favourable intentions to receive a malaria vaccine. … perceived disease severity was more strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake, whereas perceived disease susceptibility more strongly predicted favourable intentions to receive a malaria vaccine. Women were more likely to support malaria vaccination…”
Latest in a series of articles on the acceptance of malaria vaccines by the public is Agboola P & al., R21/MATRIX Malaria Vaccine: Awareness, Perception, Acceptability, and Willingness to Pay Among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Endemic Communities in Lagos, Nigeria, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 5, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05803-5. On the basis of interviewing 372 caregivers of children under age five, the authors conclude that “[d]espite the low [9.7%] awareness of the R21/MATRIX malaria vaccine, caregivers demonstrated a strong positive perception, high acceptability, and moderate willingness to pay.”
The start of vaccination programs using the two WHO-approved vaccines has generated a great deal of information about the acceptability of the vaccines, which is no longer predictive, but actual. Ateudjieu J & al. report in Uptake of Malaria Vaccine (RTS,S/AS01) Among Children Aged 6-24 Months: A Cross-Sectional Survey Conducted in the Western Region of Cameroon, 1 Year Following the Vaccine Introduction, PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026 Feb 13; 6(2):e0005304, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0005304 that among the 399 children included in this study, “[v]accination coverage of first, second, and third doses of the malaria vaccine was 31.20% …, 22.61% …, and 17.70% …, respectively. Among the children who received the first dose, 56.49% … completed the 3-dose schedule. The timeliness of the three administered doses was between 50-57%.” {Presumably the fourth dose would be administered to an even smaller proportion.} While the authors acknowledge that “the performance indicators for this vaccination are below expectations for the vaccine to have a significant impact on reducing malaria morbidity in children.”, they are optimistic that “[c]ommunicating to positively influence caregivers' perceptions of malaria vaccination is expected to contribute to improving the situation.”
Hong H & al. assert that most “studies of malarial vaccines focused on increasing immunity against target molecules on the surface of Plasmodium spp. parasites. While the surface antigens are variable among all Plasmodium spp., intracellular antigens are highly conserved, and thus, intracellular targets must be studied as vaccine candidates.” They claim that a preparation developed using an intracellular protein of P. falciparum demonstrated excellent immune response in a rodent model in the laboratory. The paper is, Immunological Response of Using Emulsifying Elongation Factor 1 Alpha of Plasmodium falciparum-Based Vaccines In Complete Freund's Adjuvant, Vaccine. 2026 Jan 29; 75:128279, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128279.
Hassert M & al. assert in their article, mRNA Vaccination Overcomes Haemozoin-Mediated Impairment of Whole-Parasite Malaria Vaccines in Mice, Nat Microbiol. 2026 Feb 2, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02263-0, that immunization with “radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS) drives effective sterilizing immunity against liver-stage Plasmodium infection. However, protection is compromised in individuals living in malaria endemic regions and the mechanisms of vaccine failure are unclear.” They constructed an mRNA vaccine that overcomes this compromise in experimental mice. However, this requires the co-administration of both vaccines.
Ojo RJ, & al. looked at “the main obstacles to malaria vaccine availability and successful implementation of malaria vaccine program in Africa using academic and health databases.” As the authors report in their article, Challenges to Malaria Vaccine Availability and Successful Implementation of Malaria Vaccine Program in Africa, Acta Tropica, 2026 Jan, 273:107959, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107959, “[s]upply constraints appear to be the major factor, as the current manufacturing capacity was insufficient to meet the high demand across endemic regions in Africa. Moreover, vaccine coverage in Africa is also impacted by limited national health budget that pose constraints to acquire, transport, store and conduct immunization activities. Lack of confidence in healthcare system, misinformation and conspiracy theory about vaccine efficacy and safety frequently propagated through social networks, community and religious leaders greatly affect public confidence about vaccine in societies where past experiences with Western-led health initiatives have led many to question new interventions. Programmatic and logistical hurdles, such as cold chain requirements and multiple-dose schedules further complicate delivery in remote area while shortages in skilled health workers and weak pharmacovigilance systems limit programme effectiveness.”
“Transmission blocking vaccines work by stopping parasite fertilisation and development in the mosquito and are key for malaria elimination by preventing community spread. Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 are two leading transmission-blocking vaccine [target] candidates, and both are critical for male fertility.” Lyons FMT & al. “describe the generation of nanobodies that target Pfs48/45” in Pfs48/45 Nanobodies Block Plasmodium falciparum Transmission, PLOS Pathogens 2026 Jan 27, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013884. The authors “show that when nanobodies against Pfs48/45 were added to infected blood meals for Anopheles mosquitoes, the nanobodies significantly reduced parasite transmission.”
Vectors
Sih C & al. describe factors associated with insecticide treated net (ITN) usage and malaria infection prevalence, two years after a mass distribution in Côte d'Ivoire. Among 1672 individuals queried, ITN ownership was 66.3% and usage was 50.0%, 44.3%, and 56.9% among “participants aged 5-9, 10-14 and ≥15years, respectively, compared to 63.2% in under-fives. LLIN usage was lowest in females aged 10-14 years (41.0%) and highest in under-five males (68.9%). … [ITN] users had an infection prevalence of 38.5% …, compared to 44.3% in non-users. The authors of Disparities in Long-Lasting Insecticidal Bed Net Usage and Malaria Burden 2 Years After a Mass Distribution Campaign in Central Cote d'Ivoire: A Cross-Sectional Survey Prior to a Cluster Randomised Trial, PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026 Jan 22; 6(1):e0005642, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0005642 recommend “[s]chool-based net distributions, malaria education, routine screening and treatment and chemoprophylaxis in schools alongside community sensitization campaigns … to improve protection and reduce infection risk among school-aged children.”
Salifu Y & al. interviewed women with nomadic lifestyle and report in Knowledge of Malaria and Preventive Practices Among Fulani Pregnant Women in the Savannah Region of Northern Ghana, BMC Res Notes, 2026 Feb 20, https://doi:10.1186/s13104-026-07736-3 that although almost two third of them had reasonably good knowledge about malaria, especially if they attended antenatal clinics (ANCs), and more than half owned ITNs, fewer than 30% slept under an ITN the night before the interview. “Low ITN usage underscores some knowledge-practice gap. [The authors conclude that strengthening] ANC-based malaria education, improving sustained ITN distribution and follow-up, and implementing culturally tailored community outreach could enhance malaria-in-pregnancy prevention among nomadic and hard-to-reach populations in northern Ghana.”
“To obtain WHO endorsement, ITNs must demonstrate sustained bio-efficacy after repeated washing through standardised laboratory and semi-field evaluations. Wash resistance (WR) is typically evaluated over 20 washes (WR20) to approximate three years of use. Routine WR20 testing is impractical for quality control. To address this, … the Wash Retention Index (WRI), based on four consecutive daily washes” has been introduced. Using modeling, Skovmand O & al. report in Redefining the Wash Resistance Index to Predict Insecticidal Durability of Mosquito Nets, Malaria World J, 2026 Feb 2, 17:3, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18461060 that “WRI does not capture intrinsic wash-off kinetics. In contrast, new WR (excluding the first wash) explained more variance in WR20…” Therefore, the authors recommend “[e]xcluding the first wash from WRI,” in order to improve prediction of WR20.
Zongo ON & al. “investigated the spatial distribution of the An. funestus group and their contribution to malaria transmission in Burkina Faso.” They report in Updating Anopheles funestus Group Members in Burkina Faso: Species Distribution and Contribution to Malaria Transmission, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 3, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3 that aside from confirming that An. funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) was the predominant species, 64.3% of the blood source was non-human. Further, 5.67% of the 373 mosquitoes collected contained P. falciparum.
Njotto LL & al., Spatio-Temporal Modelling and Prediction of Anopheles Mosquito Abundance in Tanga and Unguja, Tanzania: Climatic Drivers and Insights for Malaria Early Warning and Vector Control Strategies, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 20, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05798-z is covered below, under Epidemiology/Climate change
Ezeike KA & al. tested mosquitoes that were reared from collected larvae in several localities for susceptibility to insecticides. They conclude in Urban Evolution of Insecticide Resistance and Susceptibility Patterns of Anopheles coluzzii In Southeastern Nigeria: Implications for Malaria Vector Control, Malaria J, 2026 Jan 27, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05760-5 that “[u]rban An. coluzzii populations in southeastern Nigeria exhibit operationally significant resistance to pyrethroids and DDT, driven largely by high kdr allele frequencies, while remaining susceptible to carbamates and organophosphates. These patterns highlight the need for continued resistance surveillance and tailored insecticide-based interventions.”
Tazokong HR & al. report on “a comprehensive, four-year (2020-2023) assessment of Anopheles funestus s.s. in Mibellon, Cameroon, examining sporozoite infection rates and changes in insecticide resistance relative to 2015-2018 data” in Four-Year Monitoring of the Malaria Vector Anopheles funestus in Central-West Cameroon Reveals an Escalation of Pyrethroid Resistance Combined with High Malaria Transmission, BMC Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 28, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-12708-w. “Pyrethroid resistance significantly increased over time, with mortalities decreasing from 77.7% in 2015 to 23.2% in 2023 for permethrin and 46.6% in 2016 to just 8.5% in 2023 for deltamethrin, while full susceptibility was noted for organo-phosphates. Worryingly, high intensity of resistance was recorded for all pyrethroids.” The authors recommend that “current vector control strategies should prioritize the deployment of piperonyl-butoxide (PBO) -based nets and organophosphates for IRS.”
Kezeta-Bondja S & al. claim to demonstrate by mathematical modeling that using two insecticides sequentially is more effective than two together, especially if mosquitoes are partially resistant to the initial insecticide deployed. The article is Optimizing Insecticide Deployment Strategies to Delay Quantitative Resistance in Mosquito Populations, J Math Biol, 2026 Feb 23; 92(3):37, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-026-02343-z.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that Microsporidia MB, a fungus that infects mosquitoes, blocks malaria transmission in Anopheles arabiensis. Mutwiri WK & al., Insecticide Resistance Profiles of Anopheles arabiensis and Relationship with Microsporidia MB Infection in Two Rice Agroecosystems in Kenya, Parasit Vectors. 2026 Jan 22, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07212-0 is an article that was primarily focused on insecticide resistance in the malaria vector. However, in their study of 3120 female An. arabiensis collected, the authors also found Microisporidia in higher concentrations in the relatively few insects that were most resistant to the tested insecticides. The significance of this finding is noted, but remains unexplained.
Mudenda T & al. collected “5697 female anopheline mosquitoes … from both indoor and outdoor traps, revealing [nine] species.” Goats, humans, and cows were the sources of their ingested blood. Only one of all these mosquitoes was infected by P. falciparum. The paper is Species Composition and Blood Feeding Patterns of Understudied Anopheles Mosquitoes in Southern Zambia, An Area of Low Malaria Transmission, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 11, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05799-y.
“Gene drive-modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) are gaining attention as sustainable tools to complement existing malaria control strategies. Their ability to self-propagate and spread through wild mosquito populations offers the promise of low-cost, long-lasting impact, but also raises ecological, ethical, and governance concerns.” Finda MF & al., Exploratory Conversations with Biodiversity-Oriented Civil Society Groups on the Potential Applications of Gene Drive-Modified Mosquitoes for Malaria Control in Tanzania, Transgenic Res. 2026 Jan 13; 35(1):1, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-025-00476-3 is a report on communications with ten organizations on the subject. “Overall, these exploratory discussions underscored the need for: (i) balanced dialogue between advocates and skeptics, (ii) robust ethical and regulatory frameworks covering the full life cycle of the technology, (iii) sustained community and stakeholder engagement from the early stages of research and development, (iv) enhancements of in-country capacity, and (v) national sovereignty in decision-making regarding GDMMs.”
Chemoprophylaxis
Mfala CT & al. assessed seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) effectiveness using dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) with and without single low dose of primaquine in two regions of Tanzania. As reported in Agent-Based Simulation of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Strategy in Southern Tanzania: Comparing Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine with or Without Primaquine, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 13, 25:118, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05821-3, both regimens reduced the incidence of malaria, but the addition of a single low dose of primaquine was more effective than the regimen without it.
“School-aged children constitute an important asymptomatic reservoir for Plasmodium and may harbor the parasite through malaria transmission seasons in the absence of treatment. As WHO guidelines do not recommend chemoprevention for this group, there is a need to understand how such interventions could impact malaria transmission dynamics.” Paré IGL & al., Impacts of Seasonal Mass Drug Administration in School-Aged Children on Chronic Malaria Infections in Burkina Faso, Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Feb 5: tpmd250604, https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.25-0604 is a report on administering artemether/lumefantrine to asymptomatic but parasite-harboring schoolchildren toward the end of the dry season. While the authors report that 91% of children thus treated remained parasite free during the subsequent wet season, it is uncertain whether there was an appropriate control group in the study.
Other
Traoré H & al. state that “[s]pecies of Serratia, a genus of the Enterobacteriaceae family, … have shown great promise in blocking the transmission of Plasmodium in mosquitoes.” In Molecular Characterization of Potential Plasmodium-Blocking Serratia spp. Bacteria in Field-Caught Malaria Mosquito in Burkina Faso, Parasit Vectors. 2025 Dec 21, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07191-2, they “characterize the genus Serratia within the Anopheles gambiae complex from Burkina Faso. … The overall prevalence of Serratia among malaria vectors was 13.3%.” Of the 782 mosquitoes collected from three sites, only one contained both Serratia and P. falciparum. The paper cites Gao H et al., A Natural Symbiotic Bacterium Drives Mosquito Refractoriness to Plasmodium Infection Via Secretion of an Antimalarial Lipase. Nat Microbiol. 2021; 6(6):806–17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-021-00899-8 as evidence of the effects of Serratia.
Mutashobya A & al. highlight larviciding in Semi-Field Evaluation of Efficacy and Residual Activity of a Microencapsulated Pyriproxyfen Formulation on Anopheles arabiensis Emergence Inhibition, Malaria World J, 2026 Feb 15, 17:5, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18649256. The article reviews the effects of various “sublethal” concentrations of the compound studied on adult mosquitoes. Females emerged … exhibited significantly reduced fecundity; … Adults emerged from sublethal concentrations had reduced body size, decreasing as concentration increased.”
Motivating the public to the use of malaria preventive methods such as ITNs is the purpose of so-called “malaria messages.” Mwebesa E & al., Differentiated Effects of Sources of Malaria Messages on Mosquito Bed Net Use Among Women of Reproductive Age in Uganda: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis, Malaria J. 2026 Jan 25, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05806-2 explores the effectiveness of the messages. Using a population of 3488 women of childbearing age as their test subjects, the authors conclude that “exposure through community health workers and community events showed the strongest associations [ITN] use, followed by exposure through social mobilisation and other [Social and Behavior Change Communication] platforms. Exposure through television was not significantly associated with [ITN] use, suggesting that community-based and interpersonal communication channels may be more strongly associated with {ITN] utilisation than some mass media platforms.”
Peti-Jean E & al., Draw Inspiration from Research on the Insecticidal, Irritant and Mosquito-Repellent Properties of Plants Used by Chimpanzees to Build Their Nests, Malaria J, 2026 Jan 29, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05805-3 is a somewhat speculative article about extracts of leaves used by chimpanzees to build their nightly nests. Linalool was the one compound present in all the leaves from the various species used. The combination of extracts investigated by the authors, “which contained α-humulene, caryophyllene, linalool and citral, is toxic and irritant to An. gambiae.”
Diagnosis
General diagnostics
“Severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria is primarily driven by parasite sequestration in deep vascular tissues.” Konadu EA & al. state that “[s]tandard diagnostic tools, such as peripheral parasitaemia determination, do not always reflect the total parasite burden. Plasma Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 (PfHRP2) level has emerged as a potential biomarker for estimating total parasite biomass, which may better reflect disease severity than peripheral parasitaemia. As a result of studying “[d]ata fomr 118 children diagnosed with cerebral malaria (CM, n = 58), severe malaria anaemia (SMA, n = 28), or uncomplicated malaria (UM, n = 32) [that] were collected in five referral hospitals in Accra, the authors report in Reevaluating Malaria Severity Metrics: Insights from Pfhrp2-Derived Biomass Estimates in Ghanaian Children, Malaria J, 2026 Jan 28, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05804-4 that they estimated “total parasite burden (PTot) … using PfHRP2-based biomass measurement while the circulating parasite burden (PCir) was determined from peripheral parasite density. The sequestered parasite burden (PSeq), which represent the difference between PTot and PCir, was also evaluated.” The results showed that “PTot and PSeq were consistently higher than PCir in severe malaria syndromes. In UM, PTot and PCir were similar, while the median PCir was lower in CM than in UM, suggesting greater sequestration in severe disease. After regaining consciousness, CM patients exhibited decreased PTot and PSeq values compared to their values at initial clinical evaluation. Higher PSeq estimates were associated with coma. Prior antimalarial treatment also reduced PCir but did not significantly change PTot.”
Plasmodium vivax is an important cause of malaria in the horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia. Cerilo-Filho M & al., Promising Diagnostic Performance of a Commercial qPCR Assay for Plasmodium vivax Detection: Contributing to Malaria Control and Elimination, J Microbiol Methods. 2026 Jan 7; 241:107391, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2026.107391 reports an evaluation of “a commercial qPCR {quantitative polymerase chain reaction} assay for P. vivax detection. Among 167 samples, the assay showed greater sensitivity than microscopy, detecting three additional positives. It also demonstrated high specificity and no cross-reactivity.”
Field diagnostics
An interesting take on the reliability of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is evident in Sugg KN & al., Positive Tests Are All Alike, Every Negative Test Is Negative in Its Own Way: Lack of Confidence in Negative Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 2, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05802-6. The authors report that they found objective evidence in overdiagnosis of malaria in national statistics. On interviewing healthcare providers, the authors state that they often distrusted and often instituted malaria treatment in the face of negative RDT results, while positive results were accepted at face value. “Explanations for why RDTs may be inaccurate included that improperly treated malaria can result in a negative test, RDTs are negative early in infection, RDTs do not capture all malaria species, and the wide range in RDT accuracy. Providers and technical personnel noted financial incentives to carrying out microscopic examination rather than RDTs as per DRC’s national guidelines.”
Olubiyi B & al. “aimed to evaluate the performance of the SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f. RDT using a nationally representative dataset…[using] a secondary analysis of the 2021 Nigerian Malaria Indicator Survey…” As they report on the basis of over 9000 tests in Field Performance of the SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.F. Rapid Diagnostic Test Among Children Under Five in Nigeria: Insights from the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 12, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05827-x, the “SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f. shows high sensitivity and negative predictive value, confirming its reliability for ruling out malaria in children aged 6–59 months in Nigeria. However, moderate specificity and low positive predictive value with a large microscopy-RDT estimated prevalence gap indicate a risk of overestimating malaria prevalence. False negatives may occur, potentially due to PfHRP2/3 deletions, test handling, or non-falciparum infections. These findings underscore the need for confirmatory testing where feasible…”
New diagnostic methods
Parveen R & al. state that “diagnostic methods such as microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) suffer from scalability, sensitivity, and expertise-related limitations, underscoring the need for automated diagnostic strategies.” Instead, they advocate the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Using several AI models, they claim excellent reliability in Trustworthy Deep Learning for Malaria Diagnosis Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence, Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 19, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28387-7. {While the authors claim that this method will be of use “in resource-limited healthcare settings”, it relies on the availability of diagnostic microscope at the site of diagnosis.}
Addae EK & al. “evaluated miLab™, an AI-assisted automated malaria detection platform, using nested PCR (nPCR) as the reference standard. [The authors] conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study … in three malaria-endemic communities.” They conclude in Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance of miLab™ for Detection of Malaria Parasites Using nPCR as Reference Standard, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 12, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05801-7 that “compared to nPCR, miLab™ demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.23%, specificity of 98.98%, and accuracy of 97.33%, while adjudicated microscopy showed a sensitivity of 85.58%, specificity of 97.96%, and accuracy of 93.67%. These findings indicate that miLab™ has better performance compared to microscopy for detection of malaria parasites.”
Fargnoli V & al. conducted interviews on three continents about the possibility of malaria diagnosis without obtaining a blood specimen, such as “tests based on saliva, exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and transdermal detection…” In their paper, "It Doesn't Require Blood!": Perceptions Around Non-Invasive Malaria Testing Tools in Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda, PLoS One. 2026 Jan 9; 21(1):e0318393, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318393, they report that “comfort non-invasive approaches offer to recipients of care was widely noted, especially compared with blood draw, which is considered painful for children. Ease of use and rapid diagnostic capabilities enabling real-time disease diagnosis were perceived as particularly beneficial in remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Device portability was seen as a game-changer. Major concerns were the lack of information regarding the accuracy of non-invasive tools compared with established methods, the lack of trust in tests targeting specimens other than blood products, and their inability to differentiate between malaria species.”
Tripathi H, Kar PP, Babu AP & al., Discovery of Parasite Proteins In the Urine of Vivax Malaria Patients Through Mass Spectrometry, Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 22; 115(1):117281, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2026.117281 is a report of another potential diagnostic approach, using urine. The authors report finding several proteins specific to P. vivax in the urine of patients who have vivax malaria. Further work may focus on the detection of one or more of these substances in the field.
Treatment
Treatment results
Agobé JCD & al., Artesunate-Pyronaridine-Atovaquone-Proguanil and Artesunate-Fosmidomycin-Clindamycin Compared with Standard Artesunate-Pyronaridine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria (MultiMal), Lancet Microbe. 2026 Jan 27: 101245, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.lanmic.2025.101245 compares two new antimalarial regimens to standard treatment in a Phase 2 study in order to overcome artesunate resistance in two sub-Saharan countries. Short and long term outcomes were similar between the two experimental regimens and slightly better than the results of the standard regimen. A small number of hematological complications were statistically indistinguishable among the three groups treated.
“Shorter courses of primaquine and single-dose tafenoquine have potential to improve the prevention of recurrent Plasmodium vivax infections, but there are few data on their comparative effectiveness when provided unsupervised. Degaga TS & al. “conducted a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, superiority trial in Ethiopia and three Asian countries. They conclude in Effectiveness and Safety of 7-Day High-Dose Primaquine and Single-Dose Tafenoquine Versus 14-Day Low-Dose Primaquine in Patients with Plasmodium vivax Malaria (EFFORT): A Multicentre, Open-Label, Randomised, Controlled, Superiority Trial, Lancet Infect Dis, 2026 Feb 11, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00729-7 that “[b]oth unsupervised 7-day high-dose primaquine and single-dose tafenoquine were well tolerated in patients with normal G6PD activity and they had a lower risk of P vivax recurrence compared with those in the 14-day low-dose primaquine group…”
Side effects and complications
Chloroquine, which continues to be used for treating non-falciparum malaria, is widely known for having potential adverse effects on vision. Its use is also frequent in treating certain autoimmune diseases. Araújo O & al., Auditory Toxicity of Antimalarials in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal, Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2026 Jan 21, https://doi.org/10.1080/14656566.2026.2621193 is focused on the latter use, but its conclusion, namely that the literature is inconclusive on whether the drug may also impair hearing is relevant to malaria treatment. “Some studies described subclinical cochlear or brainstem alterations, while others found no significant differences compared with non-exposed patients.”
Guidelines
Assessing compliance with treatment guidelines in 18 public and private hospitals, Getachew D & al., Quality of Inpatient Test-and-Treat Malaria Case-Management in Public and Private Hospitals in Kano State, Nigeria, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 7, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05742-7 Nearly all hospitals (94.4%) provided parasitological diagnostic services (microscopy or RDT) and stocked recommended antimalarials (injectable artesunate and ACT). Most health workers had received training on severe malaria (73.6%), but only 16.7% received supportive supervision. The composite test-and-treat performance was 39.3%, higher for children than adults … and in public compared to private hospitals … Among suspected malaria patients, 73.7% were tested on admissions and 90.2% of those with severe malaria were treated with artesunate. Children, compared to adults, were more commonly tested … and treated with artesunate …. Patients in private hospitals, compared to public, were more often tested … but less frequently treated with artesunate … Only 30.0% of artesunate-treated patients were prescribed ACT—more commonly among adults than children (48.3% vs 23.0%) and in private than in public hospitals (89.2% vs 26.9%). … The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of routine microscopy compared to expert readings were 93.2%, 42.5%, 29.9% and 95.9%, respectively.” Interestingly, when subjected to re-review by experts, positive microscopy results were confirmed only about 30% of cases.
Drug resistance
Although Gupta A & al. focus on India in their paper, Model-Guided Geospatial Surveillance System for Antimalarial Drug Resistance, PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026 Jan 6; 6(1):e0004717, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004717, its implications are world-wide. They “retrieve existing data on the prevalence of validated markers of resistance to artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from the World Wide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) Surveyor database. [They] then incorporate these data into a geostatistical model to estimate the prevalence of these markers across [the geographic area studied] and identify areas with high median estimated marker prevalence and high uncertainty.”
Kala-Chouakeu NA & al. focus on genes associated with antimalarial resistance in Prevalence of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Molecular Markers in Makenene, Central Cameroon, Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2026 Jan 16; 30:100633, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2026.100633. Examining P. falciparum specimens obtained from 185 asymptomatic individuals, they detected resistance to pyrimethamine, used in IPTp, in over 60% of samples. Likewise, over 70% of samples contained a gene associated with resistance to artemether-lumefantrine. On the other hand, the mutation most widely associated with artemisinin resistance (PfK13) was not found in any sample.
Magudha J & al. conducted a genetic study of drug resistance in patients infected by P. falciparum by studying 1750 samples obtained over ten years. They found no mutations in the usual locus of artemisinin resistance (Pfk13), but another mutation, associated with partial resistance to lumefantrine was detected in more than 80% of the samples. The genetic loci associated with resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine diminished in frequency over the time. The authors conclude that resistance patterns in Africa seem to be different from those noted in Asia. The paper is Evolving Patterns of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Markers in Symptomatic Infections in Kenya, 2013-2022, Parasit Vectors, 2026 Feb 6, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-026-07280-w.
Maiga FO & al., Plasmodium falciparum Field Isolates Drug Susceptibility in Mali, JAC Antimicrob Resist. 2026 Feb 12; 8(1):dlag015, https://doi.org/10.1093/jacamr/dlag015 describes the result of testing “susceptibility of P. falciparum field isolates to 14 antimalarials, including withdrawn/unused and currently used drugs, and next-generation agents in Mali… “Current frontline drugs, dihydroartemisinin …, lumefantrine … and pyronaridine …, remained highly potent. Quinine showed variable efficacy …. ….. Atovaquone and amodiaquine consistently inhibited all isolates …. Next-generation compounds cabamiquine and GNF179 demonstrated consistently strong activity.”
New drug research
The history of antibiotics is full of effective drugs, such as penicillin and streptomycin, derived from microbial sources. The focus of McBride CM & al.’s paper, Metabolic Engineering and Late-Stage Functionalization Expand the Chemical Space of the Antimalarial Premarineosin A, Commun Chem. 2025 Dec 5; 8:391, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01779-6 is a com pound derived from a species of the Streptomyces genus of fungi. This basic science paper calls attention to another potential source of new antimalarials.
Although it is also a basic science paper, Mahato RP & al., Glutathione Redox System as a Therapeutic Target for Plasmodium: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives, Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2026 Jan 13, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-025-01410-0 is included because it proposes a new avenue for research into new antimalarials. “The metabolic pathways involving GSH [glutathione] in parasites are complex and markedly different from those in human hosts, rendering them a compelling target in the battle against multidrug-resistant parasites. This review illuminates the critical role of GSH in the survival of malaria parasites and the impact of key enzyme inhibitors on the GSH redox pathway… [This article] offers hope for innovative therapeutic approaches against one of the world's most persistent diseases.”
Stanley SE & al., First-In-Human Safety and Pharmacokinetics of MK-7602, the Antimalarial Inhibitor of Plasmepsins IX/X, in Single- And Multiple-Ascending-Dose Studies, Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2026 Jan 14: e0126125, https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.01261-25 is a report of a Phase 1 study. MK-7602, which doesn’t yet have proposed commercial name, is designed to inhibit two of ten proteins specific to P. falciparum (the plasmepsins). The drug achieved steady state in humans at three days. Headaches were the main side effects reported, otherwise there were no safety concerns noted in this study in two phases that included 36 test subjects.
When new drugs are investigated, it is important that special effects they may have on children are also explored. This is critical in situations like malaria infections, which are most devastating among small children. Zintrodiazine is a new antimalarial now in Phase 1b human studies. Kadu HA & al. report on its safety in juvenile animals in Juvenile Toxicity and Developmental Safety of Zintrodiazine, A Novel Antimalarial Candidate, in Wistar Rats, J Antimicrob Chemother. 2026 Jan 19; 81(2):dkag008, https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkag008. “No treatment-related mortality, clinical signs or developmental impairment were observed. Body weight, food intake, sexual maturation and femur length were unaffected. Neurobehavioural performance remained normal across all assays. Transient, non-dose-dependent changes in liver and renal biomarkers observed at terminal phase resolved at the end of recovery.” This study highlights “Zintrodiazine's potential as a safe and effective antimalarial for children.”
In a meta-analysis of seven papers on clinical testing of a new antimalarial, Sula I & al. report an interesting finding in Evaluating the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Antiparasitic Activity of DSM265, a Novel Antimalarial Plasmodium Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Early Clinical Trials, Malaria J, 2025 Feb 17, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05826-y. Namely adverse events were reported in both low and high dose administration, but not at the single dose of 400mg in oral suspension. Further, the authors allude to reproductive medicine focused side effects in preclinical studies, which makes it questionable whether the drug in question will be developed further.
Plant extracts and traditional treatments
Pristile Brou SE & al. studied an extract of laboratory-created combination of four plants used in African folk medicine against malaria. They report in Antimalarial Potential and Toxicity Assessment of a Polyherbal Combination of Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf., and Psidium guajava L. in Rodents, J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Dec 4, 120999, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120999 that in the mouse malaria model, the extract had 76% antimalarial activity, vs. chloroquine at 92%. “No mortality or signs of acute toxicity were observed at [over o50 times the therapeutic dose]. Repeated administration over 28 and 90 days did not result in significant changes in clinical, haematological, biochemical, or histopathological indices.”
The two plants studied by Singh K & al. and reported by In Vitro Antiparasitic Activity and Phytochemical Profiling of Rhaponticum repens and Achillea millefolium Methanolic Extracts Against Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania major, Acta Parasitol. 2026 Feb 16; 71(1):39, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-025-01211-y are primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere. They are commonly known as Russian knapweed and yarrow, respectively. The authors found that the methanolic extract of both inhibit the two parasites studied, but that the extract of A. millefolium was more effective against P. falciparum.
Other
Shahar M & al. describe a “previously unknown stage in its life cycle that appears to be crucial for reproduction. This is important because malaria depends on the parasite's rapid ability to multiply inside the human body, so stopping its reproduction could help prevent severe disease…” (https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260204/) in Independent Nuclear and Organellar Mechanisms Determine Apicoplast Fate in Malaria Parasites, J Cell Biol, 2026 Feb 2, 225 (2): e202504052, https://doi.org/10.1083/ jcb.202504052, a basic science article that may have far reaching implications in the development of future therapies.
The combination of artesunate with mefloquine continues to be used in som,e paerts of the woerld against uncomplicated P. falciparum infections. Mim SR & al. state in Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Anti-Plasmodial Drugs Mefloquine Plus Artesunate: Insights on Translational Application, Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2026 Feb 12: e0171725, https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.01717-25 that the pharmacodynamic underpinnings of this combination have not been worked out and proceed to demonstrate why the combination is effective. Then the authors report that in the mouse model the combination is more effective in bringing about sustained clearance of parasite than artesunate alsone.
Campaigns and Policies
According to Kanyakukenge DB & al., in the “remote areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the Kapolowe health zone, the healthcare-seeking behaviour of mothers with children suffering from severe malaria remains a major challenge.” They conducted focus group discussions in 30 villages and report in Young Children with Severe Malaria in the Kapolowe Health Zone: An Analysis of Their Parents’ Health-Seeking Behaviors and the Challenges They Face, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 12, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05819-x that “mothers in Kapolowe often delay seeking care when their children become ill. When they do seek care, they frequently resort to self-medication with both modern medicines and traditional remedies. Barriers to access included geographical distance, impassable roads, lack of transportation and healthcare facilities, as well as financial difficulties related to both direct and indirect costs of care. Cultural factors also played a significant role in decision making, with mothers preferring to wait, rely on traditional practices, or turn to prayers.” The authors recommend “developing strategies that account for lived realities of the community.”
Eigbiremolen G, & al. estimated “the programmatic and annualized economic costs of campaigns that distributed pyrethroid-PBO ITNs in [two States in] Nigeria, using a single-phase, door-to-door strategy.” Close to 7 million ITNs distributed formed the basis of the study, reported in Costs of Single-Phase Door-to-Door Insecticide-Treated Net Mass Distribution Campaigns in Nigeria: A Case Study in Ondo and Anambra States, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 15, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05829-9. The cost of delivering the ITN was between USD 3.19 and USD 3.22 per household. Assuming an ITN lifespan of 2.5 years and a 3% annual discount rate, the annual economic cost was between USD 1.34 and USD 1.36 per ITN distributed and between USD 0.69 and USD 0.72 per person potentially protected. “Net procurement was the primary cost driver … Sensitivity analysis indicated that ITN durability was the dominant factor influencing annual cost per person protected.”
Please see Paré IGL & al., Impacts of Seasonal Mass Drug Administration in School-Aged Children on Chronic Malaria Infections in Burkina Faso, Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Feb 5: tpmd250604, https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.25-0604 under Prevention/Chemoprophylaxis
Epidemiology
Climate change, biodiversity and environment
Symons TL & al.” integrate 25 years of African data on climate, malaria burden and control, socioeconomic factors, and extreme weather. Using a geotemporal model linked to an ensemble of climate projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2-4.5 (SSP 2-4.5) scenario, [the authors] estimate the future impact of climate change on malaria burden in Africa, including both ecological and disruptive effects. [Their] findings indicate that climate change could lead to 123 million (projection range 49.5 million to 203 million) additional malaria cases and 532,000 (195,000-912,000) additional deaths in Africa between 2024 and 2050 under current control levels. Contrary to the prevailing focus on ecological mechanisms, extreme weather events emerge as the primary driver of increased risk, accounting for 79% (50-94%) of additional cases and 93% (70-100%) of additional deaths.” The article is Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Malaria in Africa, Nature. 2026 Jan 28, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10015-z.
Ninsiima LR & al. analyzed malaria incidence in a “retrospective ecological time-series study,” Climate Variability and Malaria Incidence Trends in Yumbe District, West Nile Sub-Region of Uganda (2017–2021), Malaria J, 2026 Feb 7, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05824-0. “Malaria trends closely followed rainfall patterns, peaking during the period of high precipitation. Time-series analysis showed that rainfall was positively associated with malaria incidence at one-month lag …, while minimum temperature was inversely associated …. Maximum temperature showed no significant effect on malaria incidence.”
Gelaw TT & Abera MA used local data from the past 25 years, including weather variables in preparing their paper, Forecasting Malaria Incidence in a Resource-Limited Urban Setting with Climate Variables as Exogenous Regressors: Time Series Analysis Using a SARIMAX Model in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 12, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05823-1. They conclude that there is an “upward trend in forecasted malaria cases for the upcoming years, suggesting a potential breakdown in current strategies.” At the same time, “[n]one of the weather condition data showed a statistically significant predictive relationship with malaria incidence…”
Njotto LL & al. sampled 5700+ Anopheles mosquitoes in two regions of Tanzania over several months. Spatio-Temporal Modelling and Prediction of Anopheles Mosquito Abundance in Tanga and Unguja, Tanzania: Climatic Drivers and Insights for Malaria Early Warning and Vector Control Strategies, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 20, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05798-z. Trends of mosquito abundance compared to mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures and relative humidity were inconsistent between the two regions. Nonetheless models built on weather- driven mosquito dynamics “predicted surges in Anopheles abundance prior to the Zanzibar malaria outbreak in late 2023. {Zanzibar was not one of the regions from which mosquitoes were collected.}
Using data from 27 health centers, encompassing five years, Rajaonarimirana E & al. analyzed the results of over 276,000 RDTs, 39.6% of which were positive for malaria. As described in Association of Climate Variables with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Cases in Mandoto, Madagascar: A Statistical Modeling Study, Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Feb 10: tpmd250329, https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.25-0329, P. falciparum and P. vivax were co-endemic in all areas studied with P. falciparum the infecting agent in 71.5% of cases during the last three years of the study. “Malaria cases peaked in January, with a second peak from April to June after the rainy season, and declined between July and September. Precipitation and temperature effectively revealed the seasonality of malaria dynamics, thereby improving model accuracy. Plasmodium falciparum exhibited stronger associations with precipitation and temperature variability.”
Hayden NJT & al. “aimed to investigate potential associations between changes in precipitation and temperature and prevalence of malaria infection in children under 5 in Mali … using data from the Mali Demographic and Health Surveys and Malaria Indicators Surveys conducted” four time between 2012 and 2021. They report in Associations Between Precipitation, Temperature, and Malaria Prevalence in Children Under 5 in Mali, PLoS One, 2026 Feb 20; 21(2):e0342127, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342127 that with a “three month lag, precipitation was statistically significantly positively associated with the odds of RDT-diagnosed malaria in children ages 6-59 months … and minimum, maximum, and average temperature were statistically significantly negatively associated with the odds of malaria … With a two month lag, maximum temperature was statistically significantly negatively associated with the odds of malaria ... At a one month lag, minimum temperature was statistically significantly positively associated with the odds of malaria ... All other results were not statistically significant.”
Risk factors
According to Adam J & al., the “overall prevalence of malaria among children aged 6–59 months in the DRC was 33% …, varying significantly between provinces, from 5% in Kinshasa to 61% in Bas-Uele province.” As they describe in Prevalence and Factors Associated with Malaria Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 9, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05822-2, risk factors included age of two to five years, “mothers with no education … and those with primary education … the poor wealth quintile … and the middle wealth quintile …, never [having] slept under an insecticide-treated net …, households without a television …, houses with unimproved floor material ... or unimproved roof material.”
In Ethiopian “urban settings, rapid unplanned expansion, poor drainage, and population movement are increasingly creating aquatic habitats that support vectors such as Anopheles stephensi, thereby leading to complex and underestimated transmission patterns. According to Teka H & al., “[s]erology-based risk factor analyses offer a sensitive indicator of recent and past exposure, helping to reveal underlying transmission patterns and more tailored interventions.” However, their paper concentrates on the rates of positive serology as an indication of recent infection and list only proximity to breeding sites and age over 15 as risk factors. The paper is Heterogeneity of Malaria Transmission in Urban Settings in Ethiopia: A Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Analysis, PLoS One. 2026 Feb 5; 21(2):e0328118, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328118.
Like many papers on the subject, Kinda R & al., Sociodemographic and Healthcare Determinants of Malaria Infection Among Children Under Five in Burkina Faso: Analysis of the 2021 Demographic and Health Survey Data, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 18, https://doi.org/10.10.1186/s12936-026-05832-0 analyzed data from 5674 children from a national survey. “Compared with children aged 6–12 months, the risk of malaria increased with age, … Higher malaria prevalence was also observed among children living in rural areas …, in households without electricity …, and in poor households.”
Compaore EW & al. make a strong case that malnutrition is a risk factor for malaria in their paper, Malaria and Malnutrition in Children Under the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Coverage in the Health District of Nanoro, Burkina Faso, PLoS One, 2026 Feb 23; 21(2):e0342237, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342237. Among 425 children receiving SMC over two years, 260 were malnourished and 165 were not. “Malaria incidence per 1000 child-month were higher in undernutrition (974.47) than in [those with adequate nutritional status] (214.47). Malnourished children were 1.41 times more likely to have tan episode of clinical malaria than children” with adequate nutritional status.
General epidemiology
The incidence of malaria increased greatly in a town of SW Ethiopia. Nuh AY & al. looked at the surveillance system to search for a cause of the change. They report in Evaluation of the Malaria Surveillance System and Trends in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia, 2024: A Mixed-Method Study, Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 9, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33344-5 that the “surveillance system was generally simple and flexible but limited by incomplete reporting, weak feedback mechanisms, and inadequate private-sector engagement. Malaria cases rose dramatically from 432 in 2012 to 11,824 in 2016 …, with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for 56.4% of infections. … Although functional, the malaria surveillance system in Jimma Town is constrained by data incompleteness, limited feedback, and poor integration of private providers. Major limitations include reliance on routine data and a small qualitative sample size.”
Two articles this month focus on the Duffy antigen receptor for cytokynes (DARC) in red blood cells (RBCs) that define the Duffy blood groups. This antigen is the portal by which P. vivax and P. knowlesi enter the RBC. Most of those whose blood group is Duffy negative are resistant to infection by P. vivax. Vilá-Valls L & al. describe the relatively rapid (1500-year) development of selection pressure for the gene that leads to individuals possessing this blood group in a the Coptic religious minority population in Sudan’s Complex Genetic Admixture History Drives Adaptation to Malaria in Sudanese Copts, Proc Nat Acad Sci, 2026 Jan 6, 123(3):e2516263123, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2516263123. The blood group’s influence, if any, on P. falciparum is unclear, since P. falciparum apparently has multiple ways of invading RBCs. The studies conducted by Manneh B & al. and reported in their paper, Invasion Preferences Suggest a Possible Role for Plasmodium falciparum Parasites in the Expansion of Duffy Negativity in West and Central Africa, Mol Biol Evol. 2026 Feb 3: msag033, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag033 lead the authors to conclude that P. falciparum may actually prefer the Duffy antigen as an entry and therefore there is a “link between Duffy negativity and P. falciparum and suggest that DARC may directly or indirectly be involved in P. falciparum invasion of human RBCs” and by inference, favor the evolution of Duffy negative individuals.
Bouwe T & al. conducted a literature review, investigating public awareness of the public health significance of asymptomatic carriers of the malaria parasite. As they report in their article, To What Extent Do People in Malaria-Endemic Countries Know Asymptomatic Malaria Infections? A Systematic Review, PLoS One. 2026 Jan 16; 21(1):e0340636, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340636, while the awareness was reported to be high (88%) among health care personnel in the single study that reported on it, public awareness was extremely variable among communities studied, ranging from 14.2% to 79.8%. The authors’ recommendations include the following: “For better malaria control and to accelerate disease elimination, education on asymptomatic malaria would be necessary. Given the limited number of studies, further research on knowledge of asymptomatic malaria would be crucial in various malaria-endemic areas to provide evidence for tailored interventions.”
Buchwald AG & al. propose that Asymptomatic School-Age Children Carry the Majority of Transmissible Plasmodium falciparum Infections (Commun Med (Lond). 2026 Feb 11, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-026-01407-x). In their “year-long cohort study [of 947 individuals] in rural Malawi, [the authors] used molecular methods to detect all Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infections and those containing gametocytes, the parasite stage required for transmission, longitudinally at routine surveillance and sick visits.” ... “Comparisons by age-group revealed that a higher proportion of school-age children (5 –15 year-olds) had at least one gametocyte-positive observation during the study (37%) compared to younger children (under-5) or adults (over-15) (13% and 16%, respectively…” {second quote from manuscript}. The authors estimate that “clearing infections from asymptomatic school-age children in the rainy season would decrease gametocyte abundance by 67% in the population.”
Oso TA & al. report on the epidemiology of malaria in Nigerian children in Spatial and Temporal Inequalities in Malaria Incidence and Mortality Among Children Aged 0–4 Years in Nigeria: A Subnational Analysis, 2010–2019, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 2, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05809-z. “From 2010 to 2019, national malaria incidence declined from 103 to 74.5 cases (27.7% reduction), while mortality fell from 477.3 to 237.6 deaths per 100,000 (50.2% reduction). However, progress was uneven. Northern states such as Zamfara, Kano, and Katsina had the highest baseline burden in 2010 (incidence > 150 per 1000; mortality > 700 per 100,000) and, despite declines, remained among the most affected in 2019.”
Okello G & Aucamp M, Malaria: A Review on Its Current Epidemiological Status and Management Strategies, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 4, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05748-1 is the authors’ take on the current status of malaria, primarily in Africa. Some of their comments include: “Owing to repeated infections and widespread implementation of early interventions, there has been a notable rise in cases of clinically atypical malaria and asymptomatic Plasmodium carriers, which increases the risk of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Despite these challenges, African nations have made substantial progress in malaria control and elimination. Key advancements include, increased distribution of insecticide-treated nets use, increased indoor residual spraying, widespread rapid diagnostic tests, intermittent preventive treatment in vulnerable populations, deployment of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), and of late, the deployment of malaria vaccines to children under 5 years. Between 2000 and 2022, the WHO African Region reported a 40% reduction in malaria incidence and a 60% decline in mortality. Nonetheless, the continent faces emerging threats that could hinder further progress. These include persistent poverty, the effects of climate change, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and coverage, increased outdoor transmission linked to changing mosquito behavior, the appearance of new vector species, and rising resistance to both antimalarial drugs and insecticides.”
Spatiotemporal studies
Tugbeh RS & al., Geographic Variation in Malaria Prevalence Among Children Under Five in Coastal and Inland Counties of Liberia: Analysis of the 2022 Malaria Indicator Survey, Malaria J. 2026 Jan 15, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05784-5
Zewde Z & al., Community Reservoirs of Malaria Parasites and Gametocytes in Arba Minch District, Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Malaria J, 2026 Jan 27, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05795-2.
Klu D & al., Household Characteristics, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Malaria Prevalence Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Ghana: An Analysis of the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, Malaria J, 2026 Feb 2, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05815-1