Photo by giorgi gvilava on Unsplash (illustrative)
On 23 January 2025, the World Health Organization certified Georgia as malaria-free. The country in the South Caucasus had not recorded a locally transmitted case since 2009, after fighting a disease that once affected about 30% of its population.
Key facts
In the 1920s, roughly 30% of Georgia's population was infected with malaria.
Three malaria parasite species were eliminated by 1970, but the disease returned in 2002 with 474 reported cases.
The last locally acquired case was recorded in 2009.
Georgia joined a list of 45 countries and one territory certified malaria-free by WHO.
Why it matters
Georgia's story shows that malaria can come back after it is beaten, and that it can be defeated a second time with steady surveillance and quick response. It also brings Europe close to becoming the first WHO region to be entirely certified malaria-free.
Worth noting
Certification requires at least three straight years with no local transmission plus the capacity to stop it returning. Imported cases from travelers can still occur, so surveillance must continue.