The Malaria Atlas Project (MAP) has released new modelling, highlighting the urgent need for more global funding to prevent a surge in malaria cases and deaths.

Developed by a team led by Professor Pete Gething and Dr Tasmin Symons, with contributions from Professor Nick Golding, the models project that even if current funding levels are maintained, the world could still see an additional 112 million malaria cases and 280,000 deaths over the 2027-2029 period.

His Excellency President Umaro Sissocco Embaló sounded the alarm at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) last month, based on the findings of new models developed by the MAP team for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA).

The projections highlight the growing challenges of rising insecticide and anti-malarial drug resistance, climate change, and humanitarian crises, which are making it increasingly difficult to control and eliminate the disease.

However, the situation is projected to worsen significantly if there is a cut in funding or a reduction in malaria’s allocation at the Global Fund Replenishment next year. In such a scenario, MAP’s modelling forecasts an estimated 137.2 million additional malaria cases and up to 337,000 additional deaths over the 2027-2029 period.

Professor Gething said: “this analysis underscores that the global fight against malaria is at a moment of peril – if fears of reduced global funding are borne out, the consequences will be dire for vulnerable populations – and especially young children – across Africa.”

For more information, visit the RBM News Page: https://www.endmalaria.org/news/malaria-kill-300000-more-people-if-critical-funding-not-received