More than 600,000 people worldwide die each year from the mosquito-borne disease malaria, and most of these deaths are in children under the age of 5.
Now, disturbing studies have emerged that the malaria virus is becoming resistant to the special child-saving drug artemisinin, which is often given to children with malaria.
This is the first study from Africa to show that children with malaria and severe symptoms are experiencing at least partial resistance to artemisinin, said study co-author Dr. Chandi John, director of the Ryan White Center for Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.
The researchers presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The researchers presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans.
