But, in its world malaria report released on Thursday, the WHO warned of new challenges including mosquito resistance to insecticides and parasite resistance to drugs used to treat malaria.

Ninety-five per cent of all malaria cases are in Africa, with children under five most at risk.

Despite ongoing disruption to health services caused by Covid-19, malaria deaths fell last year by 6,000, to 619,000.

New cases rose slightly to 247 million, a much slower rate than the previous year.

The WHO says the relatively good results are due to countries strengthening their response to malaria prevention, testing and treatment.

But the increasing resistance to insecticide used in bed nets is a worrying development - as well as mosquitoes changing their habits, biting during the day, outside, where they can avoid bed nets.

So although the WHO has praise for countries working hard to tackle malaria, there is no room for complacency – without renewed global effort, malaria could race ahead of the campaign to control it.