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 nation. During the same period, health officials confirmed 29,938 malaria-related fatalities. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, disclosed these figures at the launch of a mass treatment initiative in Ituri province. This campaign aims to address regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and exerts significant pressure on healthcare services.
The campaign was initiated across Ituri’s health zones of Bunia, Nyakunde, Mungwalu, and Rwampara, targeting more than one million residents with antimalarial medications during a four-day operation. In the first half of 2026, Ituri recorded over 373,000 malaria cases and 106 deaths. The health teams are leveraging this initiative to lower infection rates and fever cases within affected communities, while also enabling health facilities to identify other serious illnesses more efficiently when patients present symptoms similar to malaria.
Malaria remains among the highest burdens globally, with estimates from World Health Organization indicating 282 million infections and about 610,000 deaths in 2024. Africa accounts for approximately 95% of both cases and fatalities, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo contributing 11.7% of malaria deaths across the continent. Children under five continue to bear the majority of malaria deaths in Africa, emphasizing the disease’s devastating impact on young children in regions with ongoing transmission.
Malaria’s Heavy Toll on National Health
Malaria primarily transmits through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms such as fever, chills, and headaches are common, but severe cases can lead to seizures, breathing difficulties, and extreme weakness. The most dangerous parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, dominates transmission across Africa. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent many severe cases and fatalities. To combat this, health programs depend on insecticide-treated mosquito nets, prophylactic medications, indoor spraying, and community-based interventions to reduce mosquito exposure and interrupt the spread of the disease.
In October 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo expanded its malaria prevention strategies with the rollout of the R21 vaccine. The initial phase started in Kongo Central, where 693,500 doses were allocated for children, targeting 173,375 children across 31 health zones. The World Health Organization supported this vaccine introduction alongside national health authorities and partners. Vaccination adds another layer of defense alongside existing measures such as mosquito nets, preventive treatments, testing, and artemisinin-based medicines for confirmed cases.
Mass Treatment as Part of Broader Prevention Efforts
The national malaria strategy covering 2024 through 2028 integrates various approaches targeting regions with persistent transmission. These include the distribution of newer insecticide-treated nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women and infants, and a seasonal malaria chemoprevention pilot. Additional measures involve indoor residual spraying, larval habitat control, rapid diagnostic testing, and treatment with recommended antimalarial drugs. Surveillance and community engagement are integral to this comprehensive framework, with an official goal of safeguarding 80% of populations at risk of malaria.
The latest national statistics for 2025 reflect the figures from the country’s malaria program and differ from international modeled estimates. They underscore that malaria continues to affect tens of millions across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ituri mass treatment campaign now forms part of a wider strategy that includes vaccination, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts. Health officials remain focused on directing resources toward heavily affected communities to curb infections, reduce severe illnesses, and prevent deaths related to malaria.