Zimbabwe Malaria Cases Hit 65,399, Deaths Reach 174 as US Aid Cuts Weaken Defenses
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 28
Zimbabwe Malaria Cases Hit 65,399, Deaths Reach 174 as US Aid Cuts Weaken Defenses
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 28
65,399 malaria cases and 174 deaths were recorded in Zimbabwe from January to April 2026, up from 36,000 cases and 85 deaths a year earlier.
US funding cuts after Donald Trump’s 2025 return disrupted programmes including ZENTO and ZAPIM II, reducing mosquito-net distribution, surveillance, diagnosis and treatment capacity in high-burden districts.
Limited test kits, drugs and nets are now forcing some rural patients to travel to clinics, while health workers say supplies are being rationed to hotspot communities.
Heavy 2025-2026 rains after El Niño also boosted mosquito breeding, with experts saying climate-driven spread is reaching higher-altitude areas and amplifying the impact of weaker prevention systems.
Zimbabwe still aims to eliminate malaria by 2030, but health experts warn donor dependence and widening funding gaps could erase years of progress unless domestic financing rises.
Zimbabwe's malaria resurgence was predictable. Which other aid-dependent nations could face a similar health catastrophe next?
After foreign aid cuts triggered a malaria crisis, can Zimbabwe now fund its own fight against the disease?
As climate change and aid cuts create a perfect storm, how can nations build truly resilient health systems?
From Progress to Peril: How Aid Withdrawal and Climate Change Sparked Zimbabwe’s 2026 Malaria Surge
Overview
Zimbabwe is facing a severe malaria crisis between January and April 2026, with a sharp rise in infections and deaths threatening to undo more than a decade of progress in fighting the disease. Despite being celebrated for major reductions in malaria cases and deaths by 2024, the country now risks losing these hard-won gains. Health experts warn that without immediate action to address critical funding gaps, years of dedicated effort could be lost. The situation highlights the urgent need for intervention to prevent a full reversal of Zimbabwe’s previous success in malaria control.