Malaria, we all know it, we all have had it, and some have survived while others have not.  

Over one million Africans die from malaria yearly with about 700,000 being children.   So it was based on these statistics that I was excited today when the BBC announced that researchers in Melbourne believe that they have breakthrough treatment in the fight against malaria.

Apparently, and I didn’t know this, the malaria parasite (mosquito) produces a glue-like substance which makes the cells it infects sticky, so they cannot be flushed through the body.  So the researchers came up with a way of destroying the protein within the glue which will destroy the stickiness and undermine the parasite’s defense.

That’s good news for Africa where 90% of the cases are registered.   According to a Harvard Researcher Dr. Sachs,  If malaria had been eradicated about 35 years ago, Africa’s GDP would be up to $100 billion greater by now.  That’s a lot of resources being lost to the illness.  The same research showed that Malaria-free countries average three times higher GDP per person than malarious countries.  Now we know why our economy is on the decline.

Amazingly the death toll of malaria can be reduced by 50% if people used insecticide treated bednets yet only a few use these nets.   With the UN’s  goal of eliminating malaria deaths by the end of 2010, the breakthrough in Melbourne could not have been better timed.