Over 100,000 Malaria Patients at Risk… What’s the U.S. Connection?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the global spread of malaria, stressing that the disease could claim the lives of more than 100,000 people.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for funding to combat the disease, pointing out that around 107,000 people worldwide are at risk of death in 2025 due to the United States halting its funding for malaria control efforts.

Ghebreyesus explained that the U.S. has been the largest bilateral funder in the fight against malaria over the past two decades, contributing to the prevention of 2.2 billion infections and saving 12.7 million lives.

During a press conference in Geneva, Ghebreyesus noted that malaria cases are expected to rise this year, with projections exceeding 15 million infections and 107,000 deaths if Washington continues withholding funds. He warned that this could reverse the progress made over the past 15 years.

It is worth noting that U.S. President Donald Trump, upon returning to the White House, ordered the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization—a move that sparked widespread concern at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva. The U.S. had been the organization’s largest contributor, accounting for 18% of its budget in 2024.