Consider the following statements:
(1) In Sub-Saharan region malaria is transmitted through female Anopheles Mosquitoes
(2) Malawi is the first country where first malaria vaccine has been implemented
Which of the above mentioned statement/s is/are correct?
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both (1) and (2)
(d) Neither (1) nor (2)
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
(1) In Sub-Saharan region malaria is transmitted through female Anopheles Mosquitoes
(2) Malawi is the first country where first malaria vaccine has been implemented
Which of the above mentioned statement/s is/are correct?
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both (1) and (2)
(d) Neither (1) nor (2)
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- African Nation Malawi will be undertaking large scale pilot tests for the world’s most advanced experimental malaria vaccine Mosquirix.
- The vaccine has been recommended by WHO for Pilot introduction in selected areas of 3 African countries – Ghana, Kenya and Malawi for the malaria vaccine implementation programme (MVIP).
- RTS, S/ASOI – trade name Mosquirix – as a recombinant protein based malaria vaccine.
- Mosquirix – the brand name for RTS, S-trigger the immune system to defend against the first stages of the infections disease shortly after the malaria parasitic enters the blood stream through mosquito bite.
- RTS,S was created in 1987 by scientists working in GSK laboratories. In early 2001, GSK and PATH—with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—entered into a partnership to develop the vaccine for infants and young children living in malaria endemic regions in sub-Saharan Africa.
- RTS,S received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency in 2015 and was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for a pilot implementation program to assess the feasibility of administering the required four doses of the vaccine in children, the vaccine’s role in reducing childhood deaths and severe malaria, and its safety in the context of routine use.
- The country-led and WHO-coordinated Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme will also provide data and information for a WHO policy recommendation on the broader use of the vaccine.
About Malaria:
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites (Plasmodium) that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.
- Earlier In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 87 countries.
- The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 435 000 in 2017.
- The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2017, the region was home to 92% of malaria cases and 93% of malaria deaths.
- Total funding for malaria control and elimination reached an estimated US$ 3.1 billion in 2017. Contributions from governments of endemic countries amounted to US$ 900 million, representing 28% of total funding.
Links:
https://www.who.int/malaria/media/malaria-vaccine-implementation-qa/en/
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/23-04-2019-malaria-vaccine-pilot-launched-in-malawi
https://www.malariavaccine.org/malaria-and-vaccines/rtss