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Journalism of Courage
Mosquirix, the world’s first malaria vaccine, has been approved in Europe, but it will be some time before Indians get to benefit from it. 62 years after the National Malaria Control Programme, among the country’s first public health initiatives, was launched, the disease continues to kill, though not as often as before. Indian Express does a status check.
THE CHALLENGE
According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, about 95% of India’s population lives in malaria-endemic areas, but 80% of reported malaria cases are from tribal, hilly, difficult and inaccessible areas in which 20% of the population lives. There is an additional problem of chloroquine resistant plasmodium falciparum infection.
SOME SUCCESS
After touching a peak in 2006, the number of deaths has declined — and following the successful containment of mortality, WHO is now talking of possible elimination of malaria in India. To reach pre-elimination, all states, and all districts in them, must have an annual parasite incidence (API) of fewer than 1 per 1,000. Currently, 74% of India’s (over 650) districts have an API of fewer than 1.
INDIGENOUS VACCINE
In 2001, a candidate vaccine developed by Indian researchers was thought to have promise. The Malaria Vaccine Initiative at PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, a US-based nonprofit), the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in New Delhi, and biotechnology firm Bharat Biotech International Limited in Hyderabad, announced an agreement to jointly develop a vaccine. Work continues.
