Back to school for malaria prevention: a new tool in the era of malaria elimination?

Children and pregnant women are vulnerable groups for malaria. Among children, research to date has focussed on pre-school children (aged <5 years) because this group bears the brunt of malaria illness and deaths. With changing malaria endemicity, however, vulnerability patterns among children of different age groups may change.  Furthermore, children aged 5-15 years predominantly have the highest risk of asymptomatic malaria and gametocytaemia, and yet low use of long-lasting insecticide treated nets which puts them at risk.  As part of global efforts to reduce and eliminate malaria transmission, it is only logical to find effective malaria prevention strategies for school children.