The unexpected Turn in Rwanda’s Malaria Fight

After years of progress in reducing malaria cases, Rwanda is confronting a surprising resurgence and signs‍ of treatment resistance that have⁣ forced officials to revisit vaccine intervention the country onc declined.

For nearly a decade, Rwanda recorded steady declines ‍in malaria infections. Cases fell from nearly⁢ five ⁤million in 2016 to just 430,000 in 2023 – a roughly 90 percent reduction – according to data from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).

2024 Surge and Shift in Strategy

These gains are now under ⁣threat, ⁣states Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, division manager ⁤for malaria and other parasitic diseases at the RBC, Rwanda‘s health implementation agency.

In⁣ 2024, malaria cases rose by more than 45 percent in one year, reaching 620,000.

Rwanda ⁣previously opted out of receiving malaria⁤ vaccines during the first phase of distribution by the World⁤ Health Organization (WHO) ⁤and GAVI in 2023, confident in its consistent progress in reducing malaria‍ over the last decade.

“But now, we’re experiencing a ⁣surge in the⁢ disease,”⁤ Mbituyumuremyi said in an interview with SciDev.Net.

“We’re considering⁤ using vaccines since all other⁢ measures have yet to work and malaria⁢ cases are⁢ increasing.”

The rise in cases ‍began unexpectedly in January 2024, a time when malaria ⁤incidence usually declines, according to Mbituyumuremyi.

It’s ⁣the first time we have experienced an increase in‍ malaria cases in Rwanda since‍ 2016.

We’re alarmed that it’s not just a slight increment, but a notable one.”

Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, Division Manager for Malaria and Other Parasitic ⁤Diseases at the RBC

Mortality Rates and Affected Districts

According to Mbituyumuremyi, ⁢the number of annual deaths fell⁢ from 650 in 2016 to 67 in 2023, and more than two dozen districts entered…