Rwanda: Malaria Incidence On Decline As Govt Targets High-Burden Areas

What the report says

Rwanda’s malaria incidence declined slightly in the 2025-2026 season as health authorities concentrated prevention and treatment efforts in areas with the highest burden, according to The New Times via AllAfrica. Data from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre showed incidence falling to 72 cases per 1,000 people, down from 76 the previous year, though still above the 45 per 1,000 recorded in 2023-2024.

The article said the national malaria pattern rose sharply early in the season, then trended downward through 2026. Health officials linked the improvement to more data-driven targeting of interventions, including indoor residual spraying with new insecticides, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, and the rotation of three treatment drugs to help slow resistance. Those medicines include artemether-lumefantrine, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and artesunate-pyronaridine.

RBC has moved away from uniform district-wide measures and is now stratifying responses by sector. Areas with more than 100 cases per 1,000 people receive spraying, while those with lower but still significant transmission receive mosquito nets. The report said Ngoma, Gasabo and Kayonza were among the districts with the highest case totals from January to August 2026.

The story also noted continuing challenges such as insecticide resistance, partial drug resistance, breeding sites linked to farming, mining and construction, and reduced funding for malaria control. Community health workers are conducting testing, treatment and awareness campaigns, while officials are urging households to remove stagnant water and use nets properly, especially as the rainy season approaches.