Malaria Prevention – Existing Methods Must Go On
Usual Malaria Prophylaxis is Essential Until Vaccine is Available
Nov 13, 2009
In November 2009, a spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that a new malaria vaccine was now in its final clinical trials stage. If successful, it could be ready for free distribution in three to five years. This would be a fantastic medical and humanitarian achievement in itself for the joint initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GSK. It would also be huge step towards eliminating malaria, recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a major factor holding back African development.
However, both the malaria mosquito itself and the devastating Plasmodium falciparum parasite it transmits to humans have proved to be difficult quarries even after many years of intense scientific research. Huge strides in the prevention and treatment of malaria have been made, yet the disease continues to kill nearly a million people a year, mainly in Africa, and many of them young children. Attempts to control malaria have followed many routes, including the following:
- attacking the mosquito itself, mainly by aerial or ground spraying of insecticides;
- destroying its breeding grounds – bush clearance, improved drainage and urban garbage clearance;
- developing malaria prophylaxis in the form of drugs that reduce the severity of an attack;
- introducing more effective treatment for the disease itself;
- educating people on how to recognize symptoms, seek help and keep mosquitoes down in domestic situations;
- reducing the number of mosquito bites by the use of personal insect-repellent sprays or lotions, air-conditioning, and clothing and bed nets impregnated with repellents or insecticide.
Success of Existing Malaria Prevention Methods
All of the above methods, especially when used together in better developed areas with government-backed initiatives, have met with huge success in freeing large parts of the world from the scourge of malaria or keeping potentially malarial areas safe from it. Success stories include southern Europe, Florida, the Caribbean and Mauritius.
Limitations of Existing Malaria Prevention Methods
Various problems have shown up with the constant use, misuse, or unavailability of existing methods of malaria prevention. Some of these are due to the nature of the disease itself, while others are a result of prevailing physical and social conditions, especially in Africa where most of the deaths and economic repercussions occur.
- Intensive use of insecticides has been controversial because of possible long-term effects on humans, birds, fish and valuable insects.
- Bush clearance and drainage of wetlands can affect wildlife and increase soil erosion.
- Over time, Plasmodium has developed resistance to drugs used for malaria prophylaxis and treatment.
- Distribution of drugs, information and impregnated nets has been held back in some vulnerable areas because of lack of education and training, governmental incompetence and civil wars.
In spite of all these limitations, however, it is essential that every effort continues to be made to combat malaria.
Reasons for Continuing and Extending Existing Malaria Prevention Methods
Assuming that it is cleared for free general distribution, the new RTSS malaria vaccine will not be ready for three to five years. Meanwhile, people will still need protection and treatment.
- Organizations, networks and initiatives used to promote existing malaria prevention can be used to distribute the vaccine.
- Should the RSST vaccine not prove to be effective enough for clearance, all the other methods will need to be refined, improved and extended.
Conquering malaria has proved to be an uphill struggle against the disease itself and the conditions in which it thrives. The release of a successful vaccine would be the best news yet, but in the meantime all efforts to combat it by other means need to be sustained.
Further information:
www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx
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