Five Plasmodium species are known to cause malaria in humans.
The vast majority of malaria deaths are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, and most occur in African children under five years of age. P. vivax is an important cause of malaria morbidity outside sub-Saharan Africa. The remaining human-infective species are P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi. Go to footnote 1, Go to footnote 2
Plasmodium parasites show genetic diversity and strain variation within species, as opposed to classification by serogroups or serotypes, that are more relevant for viruses and bacteria. Go to footnote 3
- Go back to footnote reference 1
World Health Organization (2025). World malaria report 2025: addressing the threat of antimalarial drug resistance. Geneva: World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240117822, accessed 13 May 2026).
- Go back to footnote reference 2
World Health Organization (2024). Malaria vaccines: WHO position paper, May 2024. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 99(19):225–248 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-wer-9919-225-248, accessed 13 May 2026).
- Go back to footnote reference 3
Manske M, Miotto O, Campino S, Auburn S, Almagro-Garcia J et al. Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum diversity in natural infections by deep sequencing. Nature. 2012;487:375–379. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11174
