15 January 2025, Chabahar, Islamic Republic of Iran – A race against time is underway in southeastern Iran, where the resurgence of malaria threatens to undo years of progress. The World Health Organization (WHO), with crucial support from the Government of Japan, is on the ground in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, battling this public health emergency and working to protect vulnerable communities.

In 2018 and 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran appeared to have won the battle against locally transmitted malaria. The victory proved fragile: in 2022, the province experienced a staggering 5-fold increase in malaria cases compared to the previous year.

The dramatic rise in cases has been attributed to the devastating floods in neighbouring Pakistan in September 2022 which led to an expansion of malaria breeding sites. The porous border with Pakistan – infected individuals and mosquitos can easily cross back and forth – poses a significant challenge, as do poverty, limited access to clean water and sanitation and inadequate housing which create ideal conditions for malaria transmission.