Artemisinin resistance on the Thai-Myanmar border

Evidence that the most deadly species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is becoming resistant to the frontline treatment for malaria on the border of Thailand and Myanmar is reported in the ‘Lancet’ today. This increases concern that resistance could now spread to India and then Africa, as resistance to other antimalarial drugs has done before. Eliminating malaria might then prove impossible. The study coincides with research published today in 'Science' in which researchers in South-east Asia and the USA identify a major region of the malaria parasite genome associated with artemisinin resistance. This region, which includes several potential candidate genes for resistance, may provide researchers with a tool for mapping resistance.Read the Wellcome Trust press releaseRead the WHO briefingOther news stories:Reuters UK: Drug-resistant malaria spreads along Thai-Myanmar border: study BBCNews Health: Resistance spread 'compromising' fight against malaria BBCNews Health Video: Malaria fight 'badly compromised' by resistance MySanAntonio: Drug-resistant malaria rising MSNNews: 'Race against time' to halt malaria Yahoo! UK & Ireland: Resistant malaria spreads rapidly to Thai-Myanmar border Bangkok Post: Drug resistant malaria spreadsGuardian UK: Malaria: global battle to contain disease set back as powerful drugs lose potencyNew Scientist: Drug-resistant malaria spreads across Thailand