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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Malar.
Sec. Antimalarial Drug Resistance
Volume 3 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmala.2025.1492444

Can Ethiopia Eliminate Malaria? Malaria Burden: Insights from the Pre-Elimination Era, Current Challenges and Perspectives

Provisionally accepted
Dagmawi Woldesenbet Dagmawi Woldesenbet 1*Yalewayker Tegegne Yalewayker Tegegne 2Abdulhakim Mussema Abdulhakim Mussema 1Elias Tamene Elias Tamene 1Kemal Mohamed Kemal Mohamed 1Wagaw Abebe Wagaw Abebe 3Melese Mekuria Melese Mekuria 4Kasahun Bogale Kasahun Bogale 1Habtamu Geremew Habtamu Geremew 5Mufta Muzemil Shifa Mufta Muzemil Shifa 6Mulugeta Aemero Tegegne Mulugeta Aemero Tegegne 2
  • 1 College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia
  • 2 Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar Ethiopia, Gondar, Ethiopia
  • 3 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, Woldia, Ethiopia
  • 4 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hossana College of Health Science, Hossana, Ethiopia
  • 5 College of Health Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia
  • 6 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Worabe University, Worabe Ethiopia, Worabe, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Abstract Background: Ethiopia has long endured malaria, especially in underserved rural areas. Despite efforts in vector control, diagnostics, and treatment, the disease persists. Progress has reduced cases and deaths, but challenges like drug and insecticide resistance, along with environmental and demographic issues, remain. Understanding both past efforts and current obstacles is key to eliminating malaria in Ethiopia. Methods: From October 2023 to January 2024, a systematic search was conducted across open access journals such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINALH, Web of Science, Global Health, and Google Scholar using MeSH and Emtree terms for malaria. The focus was on challenges of malaria elimination in Ethiopia, such as drug resistance, vectors’ insecticide resistance and the loss of the diagnostic potential of rapid diagnostic kits. Main text: Recent analyses and WHO reports show a resurgence of malaria in Ethiopia, driven by factors like emerging drug and insecticide resistance, as well as genetic mutations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms. Additional challenges include spreading drug resistance, socio-cultural barriers, the persistence of Plasmodium vivax, and imported cases in low-burden areas. To counter this trend, customized intervention strategies, active community engagement, strengthened healthcare infrastructure, and lessons from countries that have successfully eliminated malaria are essential. Conclusion: Past successes in malaria control do not ensure continued progress, emphasizing the need for rigorous strategy implementation and adaptive interventions. Recent data shows resurgence in cases, likely driven by drug and insecticide resistance. Achieving sustained elimination requires on-going vigilance, tailored strategies, and strong collaboration among stakeholders to effectively tackle these challenges.

    Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium, Ethiopia, trend analysis, elimination

    Received: 06 Sep 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Woldesenbet, Tegegne, Mussema, Tamene, Mohamed, Abebe, Mekuria, Bogale, Geremew, Shifa and Tegegne. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Dagmawi Woldesenbet, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.