African countries face a $7-billion funding gap to control and eliminate malaria. To discuss this issue among others, African ministers of health came together at the African Union headquarters to commemorate World Malaria Day. Every year 660,000 people die from malaria, and 90 percent of those deaths are in Africa. Eliminating malaria by 2015 is one of the United Nations' Millennium … [Read more...]
Chorangiosis Implicated in Pregnant Women Infected with Malaria
A passing remark launched the project that will be described at the Experimental Biology 2013 conference in Boston on Monday. A poster, presented by undergraduate Ashley McMichael from Albany State University, has preliminary data that hint that there is an association between a rare pregnancy condition and malaria. The remark that launched the project was made by a collaborator of Julie Moore, … [Read more...]
Scientists Describe Breakthrough in Anti-Malarial Precurser
Scientists from Amyris published in the journal Nature the details of a major breakthrough in the field of synthetic biology that allows for the production of a key precursor to Artemisinin, the key ingredient in the world’s most effective and preferred drug in combating malaria. Earlier today, pharmaceutical company Sanofi announced the launch of large-scale industrial production of Artemisinin … [Read more...]
Cancer Drugs May Help in Preventing Malaria
In the fight against malaria, cancer drugs are far from being considered a useful tool. But new research reveals that liver cells, which are first infected by Plasmodium parasites after their transmission by mosquito bite, actually behave in similar ways to cancer cells. The work also shows that with the help of cancer drugs, the liver can become a hostile environment for the malaria parasite. … [Read more...]
Shelf Life of Malarone
QUESTION I've just finished reading several years' worth of your responses to questions and I'm very impressed. Thank you for being surely one of the best sources on the web. My question pertains to the shelf life of Malarone tablets. My husband and I have been in Madagascar for three weeks now and will stay for another two and a half months. I am very preventive-oriented (long sleeves, pants … [Read more...]
Malaria IgG Test
QUESTION My uncle has been ill since returning from Belize, where he was bitten by multiple mosquitoes. He has every symptom of malaria, and did a malaria antibody IgG test, which came back high at 1.49 that was ordered by his primary care physician. He has now been to a hematologist/oncologist and even an infections disease doctor who have both ignored the lab result. He has since done … [Read more...]
Mobile Technology Used to Fight Malaria Drug Counterfeiting
African Social Enterprise mPedigree Networks has been running a program in Nigeria and Ghana that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of anti-malaria drugs by using mobile phone SMS technology. With the new service, patients taking a range of medication and send a free text message to get an instant response as to whether the medications are genuine. Counterfeit medicines often contain … [Read more...]
How Well Are Malaria Maps Used to Design and Finance Malaria Control in Africa?
Rational decision making on malaria control depends on an understanding of the epidemiological risks and control measures. National Malaria Control Programmes across Africa have access to a range of state-of-the-art malaria risk mapping products that might serve their decision-making needs. The use of cartography in planning malaria control has never been methodically reviewed. Materials and … [Read more...]
Cholesterol Drug Lovastatin Might Help Treat Serious Malaria Cases
Each year, an estimated 500,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa develop the most serious form of malaria, so-called cerebral malaria. Experts say many of those who do not die from this parasitic infection go on, years later, to develop memory problems and learning difficulties. Now, researchers say, a study on mice may indicate that these malaria-induced cognitive impairments could be averted … [Read more...]
Malaria Programs at Risk Due to Funding Cuts
Funding for programs to control malaria and provide universal treatment for the mosquito-borne disease is falling short of international goals, according to the World Health Organization. In its annual report, the WHO also warns that the latest drugs could soon become ineffective against some deadly malarial parasites. Ami Diabate, has brought her three children to a rural clinic to get the … [Read more...]