There is new evidence that resistance to the main treatments for malaria is increasing.
Scientists have found resistant strians of the parasite on the bouder between Thailand and Burma.
A few years ago researchers also found malaria resistance in parts of western cambodia.
In the study, published in the lanxet, professor francois Nosten and fellow scientists say increased resistance in the region has "seriously compromised" the effort to eliminate the deadly disease...more
"Malaria is particularly resisant to drugs in this part of the world." he said .
"The concerns are that if we lose these drugs to resistance, we have no new treatment ofr this disease
"These drugs, the Artemisia derivatives have been adopted as the standout treatment for any case of malaria worldwide, because they are very effective.
"But of course obviously if the parasite that causes malaria becomes resistant to them, then we will be in great trouble."
Professor Nosten says there are no back-up drugs un the development pipeline.
"There will be some new drugs, but maybe 10 years away from now," He said
"So the immediate solution will be to try to contain the resistance and eliminate malaria as much as we can in as many parts of the world where we can do it. to reduce the impact and maybe buy some time so that in 10 years time if there are new drugs available then we can use them.
"But this is really a race against time"
The main frontine drugs to treat malaria are derived from a plant commonly known as sweet wormwood
lan Macreadie, an associate professor at RMIT University in melbourne, has researched anti-malarial drug development.
"I think its well recognised that we need new drugs every five years because resistance develops so
quickly." he said mr. Macreadie says the major drug makers are not doing as much as thy could.
"These drugs are not big money earners for phamaceutical companies most of the people that need malaria drugs are in poorer countries - they just cant afford expensive drugs."
tags:malaria,thailand,burma,bangladesh
Scientists have found resistant strians of the parasite on the bouder between Thailand and Burma.
A few years ago researchers also found malaria resistance in parts of western cambodia.
In the study, published in the lanxet, professor francois Nosten and fellow scientists say increased resistance in the region has "seriously compromised" the effort to eliminate the deadly disease...more
"Malaria is particularly resisant to drugs in this part of the world." he said .
"The concerns are that if we lose these drugs to resistance, we have no new treatment ofr this disease
"These drugs, the Artemisia derivatives have been adopted as the standout treatment for any case of malaria worldwide, because they are very effective.
"But of course obviously if the parasite that causes malaria becomes resistant to them, then we will be in great trouble."
Professor Nosten says there are no back-up drugs un the development pipeline.
"There will be some new drugs, but maybe 10 years away from now," He said
"So the immediate solution will be to try to contain the resistance and eliminate malaria as much as we can in as many parts of the world where we can do it. to reduce the impact and maybe buy some time so that in 10 years time if there are new drugs available then we can use them.
"But this is really a race against time"
The main frontine drugs to treat malaria are derived from a plant commonly known as sweet wormwood
lan Macreadie, an associate professor at RMIT University in melbourne, has researched anti-malarial drug development.
"I think its well recognised that we need new drugs every five years because resistance develops so
quickly." he said mr. Macreadie says the major drug makers are not doing as much as thy could.
"These drugs are not big money earners for phamaceutical companies most of the people that need malaria drugs are in poorer countries - they just cant afford expensive drugs."
tags:malaria,thailand,burma,bangladesh
