Malaria vaccine passes trials
A vaccine that can help cure and prevent malaria has been developed at the University of Oxford. It has been described by scientists as ‘world changing’.
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| Photo: Forbes. |
The team developing it expect the vaccine to be rolled out next year, after trials found that the jab is up to 80% effective against the disease. Crucially, the vaccine is very cheap to make, ensuring that countries that malaria affects most can afford a constant supply.
Malaria has been one of the hardest diseases for humans to
understand for hundreds of years, with the parasite spread by mosquitos constantly
moving throughout the bloodstream making it incredibly difficult to target for immunisation.
Even after advancements in nets and pesticides, malaria continues to ravage the
world, there is around 229 million cases per year and 406,000 deaths estimated –
94% of all these from Africa.
The trial took place on children and infants in Burkina
Faso, one of the countries hardest hit by the disease. The vaccine has been
found to be 80% effective at preventing serious illness and death from the disease.
Malaria is the sole biggest killer of young children in the world.
The rollout is expected to start next year, pending a larger
trial sample of 4,800 with results expected to be published before the new
year. Even if this is delayed, the fact that scientists have managed such a
major breakthrough in a complex disease stands testament to the amazing technology
at their disposal. Vaccines are the best way to prevent serious illness and
deaths, and this news puts us closer to cracking the mystery of one of the most
deadly known to humans.