WHO designates Universiti Malaysia Sabah as new zoonotic malaria hub
The World Health Organisation has approved a Collaborating Centre for Zoonotic Malaria at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, marking a major step for Sabah's public-health profile.
In a ceremony in Kota Kinabalu, the World Health Organisation announced the establishment of a Collaborating Centre for Zoonotic Malaria at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, underscoring the university's contributions to malaria science. Officials noted Malaysia's progress in eliminating indigenous human malaria but warned that Plasmodium knowlesi presents a distinct challenge due to its complex cycle involving humans, macaques, mosquitoes and forest ecosystems, especially in biodiverse Sabah.
The centre will focus on surveillance, research, vector control and environmental monitoring, guided by a One Health framework. It unites UMS, WHO, the national health ministry, the Sabah Health Department and other regional and global partners. Leaders emphasized the importance of translating findings into public-health actions and investing in the next generation of researchers.
Why it matters
The new WHO centre strengthens Sabah's capacity to combat zoonotic malaria, a disease that threatens both local communities and regional health security.
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