PARIS — Multidrug-resistant forms of malaria-causing parasites are spreading across southeast Asia leading to "alarmingly high" treatment failure rates of widely used frontline medication, researchers warned Tuesday. He warned of the "terrifying prospect" of the parasite spreading to Africa, where most malaria cases occur. RELATED: DOH not yet trying new malaria vaccinesA similar resistance to a long-time frontline malaria drug, chloroquine, contributed to millions of deaths across Africa in the 1980s. More than 200 million people are infected with the P falciparum parasite, which is responsible for 9 out of 10 malaria deaths globally. A drug combination known as DHA-PPQ was initially effective against the parasite, before doctors noticed signs of resistance in 2013.

Source: Philippine Star July 22, 2019 23:37 UTC