Report reveals over 2.1 million malaria cases within nine months in 2025.

The report, released last October 29, revealed that between January and September 2025, some 2,128,394 confirmed malaria cases were reported by health facilities and community health workers.

The over 2 million confirmed cases are out of 8,204,656 consultations for illness, which represent a proportional morbidity rate of 25.9%. The report also put the annualised incidence rate at 96.0 cases per 1,000 inhabitants per year. 

“There was a slight increase in the incidence rate and proportional morbidity of malaria compared to the same period in 2024, rising from 95.2 to 96.0 cases per 1,000 and from 25.90 to 25.94%, respectively,” the reported mentioned. 

The Centre and East Regions recorded the highest incidence rates with more than 135 confirmed cases per 1,000 inhabitants, while the Far North and North West Regions declined to the lowest incidence rates with less than 80 cases per 1,000 inhabitants.

“There has been a decrease in the proportion of severe cases compared to the previous two years, from 35.0% to 32.6%. The severity of malaria remains very high in the West, North West, East and Littoral regions, with more than 35% of reported cases being severe,” the report also disclosed.

Meanwhile, analysis by target group showed that the incidence rate is much higher among children under 5 and pregnant women, with values three times higher than those for people aged 5 and over.

The proportional morbidity also proved higher among children under 5 years of age. With regards to mortality, the reported attested that 971 confirmed malaria deaths were reported in health facilities, giving a 36% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. 

“The mortality rate and proportional mortality are also down, from 6.9 to 4.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and from 8.1% to 5.3% respectively. Only the Adamawa region has a mortality rate of more than 10 malaria deaths per 100,000 per year,” the reported further highlighted.

Generally, Adamawa, North, Far North and East regions went down for the record of the highest mortality rates, unlike the South West, North West and West region that reported the fewest malaria-related deaths.

In addition, Children below the age of 5 remain the most vulnerable to malaria, with a mortality rate and proportional mortality 6 times and 3 times higher than the values for other groups, respectively.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3618 of Friday November 07, 2025