Blog #3: Malaria in Cambodia

Summary:

       According to the World Health Organization 90 percent of annual deaths that occur in Africa are caused by Malaria. A disease that is carried by mosquitoes and infects human blood. This fact gives researchers from the current article perfect reason to fear Malaria’s growing resistance to the leading drug used to combat its deadly effect. The article refers to a study that was published recently in, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a well-known medical journal.  The study found that malaria is rapidly growing resistant to artemisinin, the drug that is primarily prescribed to rid patients of the disease, in Cambodia. The study also found that this resistant strain is rapidly moving out of Cambodia toward India and Myanmar. This raises a major concern because new drugs for this disease are not likely within the near future. If this situation is not put under control the end results could potentially be devastating to the world at large. Especially in places such as Africa where the death tolls are already high due to the deadly disease.

Analysis:

       The article states that Malaria has become resistant to drugs in the past which ultimately lead to the creation of artemisinin. The article mentions a statement from the authors or the study which says that, “The pace at which the geographical extent of artemisinin resistance is spreading is faster than the rate at which control and elimination measures are being developed and instituted, or new drugs being introduced,”. In addition the article states that there is no immediate replacement for the drug and that any possible substitute drugs are not likely within the next few years or decades. These statements are very shocking and it can make one wonder about the future of many of the people in Africa who are already being effected by malaria. As well as people all around the globe given the mode of transmission for this disease. I can’t help but wonder how the World Health Organization intends to get ahead of this situation and if the population will hear anything of the intentions that may come about. 

Phylicia Smith 

2/20/15

3:30pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/world/asia/malaria-drug-artemisinin-is-failing-across-wider-area-study-warns.html?ref=health