Drug-resistant malaria can infect African mosquitoes

A drug-resistant malaria parasite found in South East Asia can also infect mosquito species in Africa, a study shows.

The transmission experiments were carried out in a laboratory, but they suggest the spread of this deadly strain into the continent is possible.

The scientists say the consequences of this would be dire, putting millions of lives at risk.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications,BBC reported.

Jumping species

This drug-resistant parasite was first seen in Cambodia in 2008, but has since been reported across South East Asia.

It is rendering the best front-line drug – Artemisinin – useless.

But this is not the first time this has happened. Since the 1950s, drug after drug has stopped working as the malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) has evolved. And each time, the problem has first emerged on the Thai-Cambodia border before spreading around the world.

Scientists now fear that the Artemisinin-resistant parasite also has this potential to disperse, but until now, very little has been known about its transmission.

Artemisinin has played a key role in the fight against malaria.

The World Health Organization estimates that in the last 15 years malaria death rates fell by 60% globally and 6.2 million malaria deaths have been averted.

Scientists warn that they cannot afford to lose this drug.

H.Z