Scientists are hailing a new malaria vaccine which uses an artificially created gene to tackle the killer disease. Indian and American scientists say the vaccine has been successfully used in rabbits.
Malaria kills up to three million people a year - mostly children and pregnant women.
Ninety per cent of the 500 million annual cases occur in Africa. Disguise Scientists have traditionally found it difficult to develop an effective vaccine because the parasite that causes the disease is highly complex and a master of disguise. It has been synthesized out of parts of genes which have provided natural immunity against malaria in some people. The malaria parasite is carried by mosquitos. It is pushed into the body and travels to the liver where it changes structure.