GNV News August 15, 2025

On July 24, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free. WHO grants malaria-free certification when it determines that there has been no indigenous local transmission among the resident population for at least three consecutive years; in 2025, in addition to Timor-Leste, Georgia and Suriname also received this certification. Including these three, there are currently 47 countries and one territory certified as malaria-free.

2002 saw independence from Indonesia for Timor-Leste but it had once been a country where malaria was widespread; significant improvements were achieved through the national malaria program led by the Ministry of Health that began in 2003. With the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and effective treatments, the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, and expanded access to healthcare, malaria infections, which had about 223,000 reported cases in 2006, have not been confirmed among the local population since 2021.

Meanwhile, in southern Africa, including Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, malaria is reported to be surging. In particular, the increase in Zimbabwe is striking: during the one-week period starting June 1, 2025, approximately 112,000 infections and 310 deaths from malaria were reported. These represent increases of about 3.4 times and 6.3 times, respectively, compared with the same period the previous year. Background factors are thought to include an increase and expansion of habitats of mosquitoes—the vectors of malaria—due to higher rainfall, as well as shortages of funds and supplies stemming from the end of U.S. funding.

Learn more about malaria → “Malaria: Will the gains achieved in Africa be lost?”

Learn more about Timor-Leste → “Is Timor-Leste’s future under the sea?”

A man controlling mosquitoes in Timor-Leste (Photo: Ministerio da Saude Timor-Leste / Wikimedia Commons [public domain])