BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo documented 26,064,143 malaria infections, highlighting the extensive reach of the disease nationwide. During the same year, health authorities also reported 29,938 fatalities related to malaria. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, revealed these statistics at the launch of a mass treatment initiative in Ituri province. The campaign targets regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and exerts significant pressure on healthcare services.
The authorities launched the initiative across the health zones of Bunia, Nyakunde, Mungwalu, and Rwampara, with the four-day operation aiming to provide antimalarial medications to over one million residents. During the first half of 2026, Ituri alone recorded over 373,000 malaria cases and 106 deaths. The health teams involved are leveraging this campaign to decrease infection rates and reduce fever cases within affected communities. Additionally, officials intend to improve the capacity of health facilities to diagnose other serious illnesses more effectively when patients present symptoms similar to malaria.
Malaria’s burden in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains among the highest worldwide, with global estimates for 2024 indicating 282 million cases and approximately 610,000 deaths from the disease. Africa accounts for about 95% of both infections and fatalities, with the DRC responsible for 11.7% of malaria-related deaths across the continent. Children under five continue to bear the brunt of these fatalities, underscoring the disease’s severe impact on young children in countries where transmission persists year-round.
Malaria Continues to Pose a Major Public Health Challenge
Transmission primarily occurs through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, with common symptoms including fever, chills, and headaches, while severe cases can lead to seizures, breathing difficulties, and extreme weakness. The most deadly malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is the dominant strain across Africa. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment are crucial for preventing severe cases and fatalities. The country’s ongoing malaria programs also incorporate measures such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, preventive medications, indoor residual spraying, and community-based strategies aimed at reducing human exposure to infected mosquitoes and interrupting the cycle of transmission.
To bolster its malaria response, the Democratic Republic of the Congo introduced the R21 vaccine in October 2024. The initial phase commenced in Kongo Central after receiving 693,500 doses for children, targeting 173,375 children across 31 health zones. The World Health Organization supported this vaccination effort alongside national health authorities and partners. Vaccination now serves as an additional preventative tool alongside existing interventions such as mosquito nets, prophylactic medicines, diagnostic testing, and artemisinin-based treatments for confirmed malaria cases.
The Treatment Campaign Augments Broader Prevention Strategies
The national malaria plan for 2024 through 2028 integrates multiple approaches to address communities experiencing ongoing transmission, including the distribution of advanced insecticide-treated nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women and infants, and a seasonal malaria chemoprevention pilot program. The strategy also involves indoor residual spraying, larval source management, rapid diagnostic testing, and treatment with recommended antimalarial drugs, all supported by surveillance and community outreach efforts. The goal set by health authorities is to protect at least 80% of populations at risk from malaria.
The latest figures for 2025, compiled by the country’s malaria program, differ from international modeled estimates but demonstrate that malaria continues to impact tens of millions throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ongoing mass treatment campaign in Ituri is now part of a comprehensive response strategy that includes vaccination, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, with resources concentrated in regions with high transmission rates as efforts persist to reduce infections, severe cases, and deaths related to malaria.