• Question: can we cure malaria

    Asked by mlricketts to Julian, Eoin on 22 Mar 2011. This question was also asked by helenstride.
    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi mlricketts.

      There are some good cures for malaria now – drugs that kill the parasites and cure people. The trouble is that the parasites get resistant to the drugs, so that we need to keep developing new ones, and there is no vaccine to prevent the disease in the first place.

      Absolutely I believe that one day we will be able to eradicate all malaria – it has already been done for some other horrible diseases, like smallpox. It will take a whole lot of work though, and some tools (like a vaccine) which we don’t have yet – that is where the vaccine thing comes in.

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 22 Mar 2011:

      Hi mlricketts,
      I think we can if we concentrate on doing the right kind of research. Julian knows plenty about this and will be able to give you a more definite answer!

      Eoin

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