WHO Approves, First-Ever, Malaria Vaccine.<br />The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed a vaccine shown to help prevent one of the oldest-known <br />and deadliest infectious diseases, malaria.<br />According to 'The New York Times,' every year, malaria reportedly kills about half a million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.<br />That number includes, 260,000 children under the age of five.<br />The new vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, targets <br />Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of five malaria pathogens, which is most prevalent in Africa.<br />The new vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, targets <br />Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of five malaria pathogens, which is most prevalent in Africa.<br />On October 6, the WHO called the vaccine <br />the first step in a process that should lead <br />to broad distribution in poor nations.<br />On October 6, the WHO called the vaccine <br />the first step in a process that should lead <br />to broad distribution in poor nations.<br />Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO’s global malaria program, called the development of a malaria vaccine , “a historic event.”.<br />Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO’s global malaria program, called the development of a malaria vaccine , “a historic event.”.<br />The 'NYT' reports that the vaccine, <br />called Mosquirix, is the first inoculation <br />developed for any parasitic disease.<br />The 'NYT' reports that the vaccine, <br />called Mosquirix, is the first inoculation <br />developed for any parasitic disease.<br />It’s a huge jump from the science perspective to have a first-generation vaccine against a human parasite, Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO’s global malaria program, via 'The New York Times'.<br />Last year, a modeling study estimated the vaccine could prevent 5.4 million cases and 23,000 deaths in children under the age of five each year.<br />The malaria parasite, carried by mosquitoes, <br />can strike the same individual multiple times. .<br />The 'NYT' points out that in many parts <br />of sub-Saharan Africa, children contract <br />malaria six times a year on average
