Saudi Arabia will be free of native malaria in 2024, with imported cases detected
In a move that reflects the efficiency of the health system and the strength of epidemiological surveillance procedures, the Saudi Ministry of Health announced a qualitative achievement, which is that the Kingdom will be completely free of any “indigenous” malaria cases during the year 2024, as a culmination of intensive efforts that included hundreds of thousands of accurate laboratory tests in various regions.
Epidemiological monitoring details and official figures
Official statistics released by the Ministry revealed that medical teams conducted a comprehensive survey, examining 654,693 people across its branches and offices throughout the Kingdom. The results showed that the overall malaria positivity rate did not exceed 1.07%, representing 7,041 confirmed positive cases .
What is striking about these results is the epidemiological classification of the cases, as “zero” original locally transmitted cases were recorded, while infections were limited to 6,850 imported cases from abroad, and 191 cases were classified as introduced cases. All cases were dealt with according to internationally approved treatment protocols to ensure recovery and prevent the spread of infection.
Geographical distribution and classification of parasites
The Jazan region topped the list of areas most active in monitoring operations due to its geographical location, with medical teams conducting 149,244 tests that revealed 3,251 positive cases (2.17%). The Asir in second with 869 cases, followed by Jeddah , which recorded the highest positivity rate, exceeding 5%, with 667 confirmed cases.
In the Eastern Province, epidemiological surveillance efforts have confirmed a stable epidemiological situation, with only 434 positive cases out of more than 124,000 samples tested. In the capital, Riyadh, 513 imported cases were detected, while regions such as Al-Qurayyat and Al-Jawf maintained very low infection rates.
Laboratory analysis showed the accuracy of the parasitic classification, with 3,798 cases of the “Plasmodium falciparum” (malignant) type detected, compared to 2,876 cases of the “Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale” (benign) types, in addition to rare and mixed cases.
Significance of achievement and its strategic importance
The absence of native malaria in the Kingdom is a vital indicator of the success of vector-borne disease strategies and epidemiological surveillance programs. Historically, malaria has posed a significant health challenge in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in the southern regions with terrain and climate conducive to the breeding of the mosquito vector.
This achievement brings the Kingdom a big step closer to obtaining the World Health Organization’s certification as a malaria-free country, a strategic goal within the Health Transformation Program and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Controlling imported cases and preventing them from turning into local infection hotspots reflects the vigilance of national health security and confirms the Kingdom’s commitment to international standards in combating cross-border epidemics.
