Every year on April 25, the world observes World Malaria Day—a reminder that while progress has been made, malaria remains a global threat.

In 2022, malaria infected 247 million people and claimed over 619,000 lives—mostly children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. It's a disease we can prevent, treat, and eliminate, but it still kills a child every minute.

What Is Malaria?

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Its symptoms—fever, chills, vomiting—can quickly turn deadly without treatment.

But we're not powerless. Over the past two decades, thanks to tools like:

• Insecticide-treated nets
  Rapid diagnostic tests
  Artemisinin-based therapies (ACTs)
  The RTS,S malaria vaccine

…millions of lives have been saved, and some countries have eliminated the disease entirely.

Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/image/3486

The Game-Changer: Tu Youyou

One of the biggest breakthroughs in malaria treatment came from Tu Youyou, a Chinese scientist who turned to traditional medicine for answers.

In the 1970s, during China's Project 523, Tu discovered artemisinin from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua). This became the foundation for ACTs, now the world's most effective antimalarial drugs.

In 2015, Tu became the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Her discovery has saved millions of lives—a shining example of how ancient knowledge and modern science can work together.

What We're Still Up Against

Despite progress, the fight isn't over. We face:

• Drug and insecticide resistance
• Climate change expanding mosquito habitats
• Critical funding gaps

And yet, the goal of ending malaria remains within reach—with continued innovation, investment, and global collaboration.

For more information about Tu youyou, you can view our online video "Science Never Ends: Tu youyou".