New Approach to Fight Malaria

Researchers have proposed an innovative approach to combat malaria, a deadly disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Instead of focusing on killing mosquitoes, they suggest treating the insects with drugs to eliminate the malaria parasites they carry.

Currently, the main method of prevention involves using bed nets treated with insecticides. These nets serve as a physical barrier and kill mosquitoes on contact. However, mosquitoes in many areas have developed resistance to these insecticides, making them less effective.

The new strategy involves coating bed nets with a combination of drugs that can cure mosquitoes of malaria when absorbed through their legs. This approach aims to prevent the transmission of the disease even if the mosquito survives. Scientists at Harvard University have identified two highly effective drugs that completely eliminate the malaria parasites in mosquitoes.

While this method has shown promise in laboratory tests, it still needs to be evaluated in real-world conditions. Researchers are planning to conduct studies in Ethiopia to assess the effectiveness of these anti-malarial bed nets in actual use.