Muscat – Oman is in the final stages of securing World Health Organization certification for malaria elimination, having recorded no locally transmitted cases since 2015, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said on the occasion of World Malaria Day on April 25.

The sultanate has halted local transmission for nearly a decade, a milestone that places it close to meeting international standards required for formal elimination status.

The ministry said national efforts are aligned with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, which aims to reduce mortality, interrupt transmission and strengthen surveillance systems.

An updated framework, titled the National Strategy for Preventing the Re-emergence of Malaria Transmission, is being implemented to prevent any resurgence. The plan focuses on strict epidemiological surveillance, case classification and tracing of infection sources, alongside early diagnosis and immediate treatment.

All recorded cases in Oman are currently imported. Health authorities reported 380 imported cases in 2024 and 261 in 2025, mainly among travellers arriving from endemic countries. Officials said each case is managed under national protocols to prevent onward transmission.

Treatment is provided free of charge to all nationalities. Preventive medication is also offered to travellers heading to malaria-affected countries.

The ministry continues vector control programmes, including mosquito surveillance and reduction of breeding sites. Updated treatment protocols are regularly reviewed in line with WHO guidance.

Officials warned that the risk of reintroduction remains due to the presence of mosquito vectors and imported infections. They urged residents to cooperate with vector control teams, remove stagnant water, and use preventive measures such as window screens and approved insecticides where necessary.

MoH also advised screening expatriate workers who show symptoms or return from travel to endemic regions, and consulting health institutions before travelling to affected countries.

Maintaining malaria-free status, officials said, requires sustained vigilance and public cooperation.