Preventing Malaria Infections and Moving toward Malaria Elimination

Malaria continues to be a major health challenge worldwide, causing an estimated 282 million cases of illness and 610,000 deaths in 2024, predominantly among African children. Despite recent stagnation in the progress of malaria prevention, the landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. This review examines current and emerging approaches to preventing malaria infection and supporting malaria elimination, including vector control, transmission-blocking interventions, chemoprevention, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. Next-generation insecticide-treated nets, expanded use of seasonal malaria chemoprevention, and the introduction of RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines are already reshaping control strategies. Looking ahead, long-acting injectable chemoprevention, transmission-blocking medicines and vaccines, and improved surveillance-driven deployment may further accelerate progress. As funding becomes constrained and decision making shifts increasingly to countries where malaria is endemic, effective malaria prevention will depend on locally tailored, integrated combinations of interventions supported by strong surveillance, regulatory capacity, and national leadership.