Posted on 05/13/2015 6:55:44 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
Now this is another deadly bite to worry about, more so because the antimalarial drugs available in India may soon lose their teeth against the vector-borne disease, like in Myanmar and Cambodia.
In the first research report on drug-resistant malaria from India, scientists at the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) have traced a mutation in the disease-causing parasite.
“Of the 384 samples we sequenced, non-synonymous mutations in the propeller region were found in four patients from the northeastern states. Though their presence did not correlate with ACT treatment failures, this mutation in the parasite comes as a major threat to India. The mutation has been witnessed in India for the first time. In near future, the resistance to drugs may occur in Indian patients too,” NIMR research scientist Dr Vas Dev said.
The Plasmodium falciparum parasite – which causes the most dangerous form of malaria with the highest rates of complications and mortality — is treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).
The treatment of malaria in southeast Asia is threatened with the emergence of artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum and India is under a constant threat.
“Genome association studies have strongly linked a locus on P. falciparum chromosome 13 to artemisinin resistance, and recent mutations in the kelch-13 propeller region (pfk-13) are strongly linked to resistance. To date, this information was not known in Indian samples,” Dr Dev added.
Concerned, the Union Health Ministry is keeping a strict watch on the situation.
“Though the mutation has not yet shown any drug resistance in India, it certainly is a major threat. Not only India but the entire world is under threat. Our scientists are carrying out various studies in this regard,” said Dr A.C. Dhariwal, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Directorate General of Health Services, Health Ministry.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Who let Al Gore in?
LOL!
I think they mean the malarial parasite’s “propeller region,” not the patient’s ;-).
And seriously, Oh dear oh dear. May I suggest DDT?
hasnt DDT been....”outlawed”
Sure, but countries like India and China break the “law” all the time. If they allow drug-resident strains of malaria to proliferate, it’s probably for population-control reasons.
Resistant.
Yes, but at the same time, the situation is worth considering, and the mosquitoes must be eradicated with deadly means considering that this new malaria is resistant and/or immune to the medicine available out there. It’s a desperate situation.
“hasnt DDT been....”outlawed”
Yup. Thank you Rachel Carson!
You may suggest indeed. Need will force us to DDT soon, if we still know how to make it.
Hmm I had not considered,...that. Given their population control “ proclivities” it makes “sense”.
SiIent Spring....not so much.!!
there are those who still worship that inane hack...
I read somewhere that in the U.S. we are trying to reserve a powerful antibiotic as sort of a last resort drug.
Unfortunately it is inexpensive and they use it in India as a first resort sort of defeating the purpose.
tax-chick brought this up”
” If they allow drug-resident strains of malaria to proliferate, it’s probably for population-control reasons.”
sadly I wouldnt put that past them
There are resistant strains because the drugs used are either diluted, adulterated, outdated or in too short supply for a full course of medication.
It’s the combination of greed on one side and poverty on the other.
Bttt
(WHO)
According to the latest estimates, released in December 2014, there were about 198 million cases of malaria in 2013 (with an uncertainty range of 124 million to 283 million) and an estimated 584,000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 367,000 to 755,000). Malaria mortality rates have fallen by 47% globally since 2000.
Mosquitoes have been gaining resistance to DDT for some time. It’s not some pesticidal panacea.
Watch for American unmarked planes to bring it into the country soon.
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