The development of resistance to artemisinin and its derivatives would be a global disaster for malaria control as current treatment regimen are dependant on this class of antimalarial drugs.
At a time when our politicians are considering how to cut as much as $1,500 billion from the federal budget we shouldn't try to cut the $33 billion we spend annually to assist the victims of malaria, famine, or natural disasters.
If [these strains] spread to Africa, where populations are most at risk of malaria, it would be a disaster of global proportions".
Because of the limited data available prior to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, it is difficult to compare malaria prevalence before and after the disaster.
Health problems and communicable diseases which evolve over the course of a flood (and disasters in general) include malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory diseases, as well as stress reactions and mental health disorders.
High mortality among young adults from conditions such as malaria, tuberculosis, pregnancy complications, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters are responsible for the large and increasing number of orphans [3].
When the Asian tsumani struck on 26 December 2004, health authorities braced for an onslaught of waterborne illnesses including malaria and cholera, which often follow such disasters.
These are concerned with the interaction between HIV and rain-fed food production capacity; impact of drought on child nutrition; disease impact of floods; changing patterns of malaria transmission; and the impact of natural disasters.
Imagine a global humanitarian disaster that kills on the scale of malaria or tuberculosis.
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action– whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
Artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) are now recommended worldwide as first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, and losing them to resistance would be a disaster for malaria control.
