WHO Approves First Malaria Treatment for Newborns Amid 282 Million Global Cases in 2024

The WHO announced Friday that artemether‑lumefantrine, now tailored for the youngest patients, meets international quality, safety and efficacy standards. Previously, infants received drugs designed for older children, raising risks of dosing errors and toxicity. The approval targets roughly 30 million babies born each year in malaria‑endemic parts of Africa.

- WHO estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024 across 80 countries, with Africa bearing 95 % of the burden and children under five accounting for three‑quarters of fatalities. - WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 'malaria has long taken children from families and drained health, wealth and hope from communities.' - The prequalification enables public‑sector procurement and aims to close a long‑standing treatment gap for newborns. - The announcement did not disclose the specific trial design or sample size that underpinned the approval; WHO noted the decision relied on clinical data demonstrating safety and efficacy in infants.

Health workers in endemic regions will now have a medicine that matches the weight and metabolism of infants, potentially reducing medication errors and adverse reactions. For families, the availability of an age‑appropriate drug could lower the risk of severe malaria in the first months of life. Practically, ministries of health can begin procuring the product through WHO‑prequalified channels, and donors can align funding with this new tool.