Malaria is one of the most prevalent infections in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and one of the top three killers of all communicable diseases. The U.S. government in cooperation with private industry is developing a malaria vaccine to combat this deadly disease.
Mosquito Netting
Significance
Most malaria deaths are in children and women in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito and causes 1 to 3 million deaths a year. Most deaths are in children and women in sub-Sahara Africa. According to the World Health Organization, a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria. Preventing malaria through a vaccine is more important than ever because of a growing resistance to anti-malarial drugs. Many pesticides that were once effective against the Anopheles mosquito are no longer keeping mosquitoes from transmitting the disease.
Vaccine Study
Test Tubes
The malaria vaccine, like all new vaccines, is not only tested for effectiveness but for safety as well. Researchers are very encouraged about the results of early studies using the new malaria vaccine. In 2007, the vaccine went through its first safety study in the African nation of Mozambique. Babies received three doses of the malaria vaccine at 10, 14 and 18 weeks old. As of 2009, results show that the vaccine reduced the babies' risk of developing malaria. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the pharmaceutical company that makes the malaria vaccine, designed the study.
Side Effects
African child
The malaria vaccine was well-tolerated by the children in the study by GSK. No side effects were observed, even though blood tests done on the babies showed that they had higher levels of anti-malarial antibodies. After reviewing this safety data, a decision was made by GSK to continue the study of the vaccine.
Successful Results
african children
The malaria vaccine has protected 2,022 children in Mozambique and cut their risk of developing malaria by 58 percent. After another six months, the malaria vaccine reduced a child's risk by 30 percent. The research team, led by University of Barcelona Professor Pedro Alonso, is working with GSK. "These are clearly the best results we have ever seen with a candidate malaria vaccine," Alonso said. He added that it would have been unrealistic to expect that the malaria vaccine would be 100 percent effective.
A Final Vaccine
Further trials will be done to prove the vaccine is safe. GSK scientists are hoping that the malaria vaccine will be licensed by 2010. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study.
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