The World Health Organization (WHO) has just approved the use of a second vaccine against malaria, which was developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, in England.
“Known as R21/Matrix-M, this vaccine will be applied in four doses: the first three over 12 months; and the fourth, a year later, as a reinforcement,” reports Lorena González López, researcher at the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology of the UNAM Faculty of Medicine.
The effectiveness of the first vaccine approved by the WHO against this disease—RTS,S/AS01, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline—is 30%; On the other hand, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine reaches 66%.
Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles.
This disease is preventable and curable; However, it continues to represent a serious public health problem, especially in Africa and certain regions of Asia and Central and South America, where the aforementioned parasites have generated resistance to the drugs used to combat them.
“Like RTS,S/AS01, R21/Matrix-M is intended primarily for infants, because they are the ones most at risk of contracting the disease in its severe form. It could be applied in 2024, everything depends on whether it begins to be mass produced,” indicates the university researcher.
The first malaria vaccine, SPf66, was designed several years ago by Colombian scientist Elkin Patarroyo; However, there are conflicting opinions regarding its effectiveness.
“Patarroyo generated a good vaccine that has some effectiveness. But the fact that the WHO has approved the widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines gives them very important support,” adds González López.
According to the WHO, in 2021, 234 million cases of malaria were recorded in the world, as well as 593 thousand deaths from this disease.
Africa recorded 94% of the cases and 96% of the deaths. And almost 80% of all malaria deaths on this continent occurred in children under five years of age.
Four African countries accounted for more than half of all malaria deaths: Nigeria (31.3%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%).
Eight countries in the Southeast Asian region (India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, North Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan and East Timor) recorded about 2% of the cases. The majority of these (79%) were concentrated in India.
As for the American continent, it registered 0.2% of cases. The majority of these (79%) were concentrated in three South American countries: Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia.
Malaria does not represent a serious public health problem in Mexico. According to the Epidemiological Bulletin of the National Epidemiological Surveillance System of the Ministry of Health, last year there were 154 cases in the country; and until week 39 of this year, there are only 31.
“Chiapas concentrates 61% of them. They are followed by Campeche (20.1%), Oaxaca (11%), Chihuahua (5.1%) and Tabasco (1.9%),” comments the researcher.
Five species of parasites in the genus Plasmodium cause malaria: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. The one that is associated with severe cases and death, and predominates in Africa, is P. falciparum.
Fortunately, P. vivax is the one that predominates in Mexico, where, by the way, only two species of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles live: A. albimanus and A. pseudopunctipennis.
“In Mexico, deaths from malaria are not reported because the P. vivax parasite is more benign, but that does not mean we should let our guard down. P. vivax can prostrate the person it infects and make them unable to go to school or work, which has repercussions both in the health field and in the economic and social fields,” says González López.
Although the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines are two fundamental weapons in the fight against this disease, other measures to prevent it cannot be neglected for any reason.
“It is essential to use mosquito nets impregnated with an insecticide around the beds, as well as long-persistent insecticides that adhere to the walls and ceilings inside the homes, and to avoid the formation of puddles or the presence of cans, tires and other objects. with water near them, as they are ideal for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and reproduce. Also, with regard to Mexico specifically, more attention should be paid to migrants coming from our southern border, since malaria cases are more numerous in Central and South America,” says the researcher.
Chloroquine is one of the main drugs that has been used to treat and prevent malaria, but over time it has lost effectiveness because parasites have generated resistance to it.
“In African and Asian countries, this decrease in the effectiveness of chloroquine has been related to the increase in cases and deaths from malaria. That is why another strategy has been used, which consists of combining other drugs. In any case, research continues to be done to develop more effective substances,” concludes González López.
Join our channel
EL UNIVERSAL is now on Whatsapp! From your mobile device, find out the most relevant news of the day, opinion articles, entertainment, trends and more.
2023-11-03 07:16:14
#approves #malaria #vaccine #Vive #USA
