A breakthrough in understanding what causes malaria may speed up development of a vaccine, say researchers. Scientists found that concentrations of the malaria parasite were higher in children with severe illness and believe this may help them to fight the disease. Dr David Roberts, at the National Blood Service, made the discovery after studying specimens of the parasite taken from patients in Africa. And the number of cells in the clumps was far higher in children with the most serious illness.
Most deaths are in children under the age of five.
It is estimated that between 200 and 300 children an hour die of malaria. Our next challenge is to identify exactly which of these parasite molecules are responsible for clumping of infected cells. This will help enormously to narrow down the search for an effective vaccine. Professor Brian Greenwood at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said any vaccine developed from the discovery would not stop infection, it would simply prevent the full blown development of the disease and its symptoms. It is such a difficult process we are having to explore every avenue in the hope a vaccination is found in the end.