Cambodia Records Zero Local Malaria Cases in First Half of 2026

PHNOM PENH, 16 July 2026 — Cambodia recorded no new locally transmitted malaria cases during the first six months of 2026, marking a 100% reduction in domestic malaria infections as the country moves closer to achieving World Health Organization (WHO) malaria-free certification by 2030.

According to the Ministry of Health, Cambodia also has not recorded a single malaria-related death since 2018, reflecting the sustained success of nationwide malaria prevention and control efforts.

Despite eliminating local transmission, the ministry warned that Cambodia remains at risk from imported malaria cases, including infections brought in by international travellers from malaria-endemic countries and malaria linked to non-human primates.

Health officials attributed the achievement to the effective implementation of strategies focused on early case detection, prompt treatment, prevention, surveillance and rapid response, carried out by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), government institutions, development partners, the private sector and local communities.

Cambodia also continues to operate a 24-hour real-time malaria surveillance system, supported by village malaria workers and the country’s public health network, including health posts, health centres, referral hospitals, provincial hospitals and national hospitals. The system enables authorities to detect, investigate and respond quickly to any malaria cases while preventing the disease from re-establishing local transmission.

The Ministry of Health said Cambodia has now entered the malaria prevention of re-establishment phase, with continued surveillance and rapid intervention forming key pillars of its strategy to secure WHO certification for malaria elimination by 2030.