This isn't about politics or economics or cop shootings or any of the hot button topics we often discuss on DK. But it's at least as important as any of those. It's about saving hundreds of thousands of lives every year.
Malaria is a scourge in many parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, sickening nearly 200 million people per year and causing about 600,000 deaths annually. Although in most cases people respond well to medical treatment, many areas do not have access to adequate medical facilities and personnel or the cost of drugs is prohibitive.
Preventive measures, such as mosquito nets, repellents, drainage of standing water and insecticides to kill eggs and larvae can help reduce risk. Yet still the Anopheles mosquito, whose bite transmits the malaria parasite, has managed to survive and thrive for thousands of years.
So, the holy grail for malaria researchers has been an effective vaccine against Plasmodium, the infectious protozoan that actually causes the disease. That has been an elusive goal until now. A new vaccine, called RTS,S, has been proven partially effective in clinical trials. It is not a perfect solution: only about 46% of vaccinated children were protected. However, 46% is far, far better than 0% when dealing with a deadly illness.
That makes RTS,S not only useful for the present but a good starting point for further research to refine or reshape it for broader coverage. We can hope that in a few years scientists will come up with version 2.0 that provides protection for 100% of the population in affected areas.
In the meantime, WHO and GlaxoSmithKline (manufacturer of the drug) expect it to be approved for general use as early as October of this year. There is no word on the cost, a significant issue in the poverty stricken areas where malaria is most prevalent. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation underwrote some of the development cost so hopefully they, or other charitable foundations and first world governments, can step in and ensure that this vaccine is readily available where it is needed.