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Malaria has got ‘deadlier’

Malaria is likely to become more virulent, fear international experts after they found the parasite becoming resistant to the most effective drug used worldwide to treat it.

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Malaria is likely to become more virulent, fear international experts after they found the parasite becoming resistant to the most effective drug used worldwide to treat it. If not controlled in time, it could kill millions, they warn.

Around 2 million confirmed cases of malaria are reported in India annually, 40-50% of which is the virulent P falciparum, the deadlier form of the parasite. An expert from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, New Delhi ( NVBDCP) said that resistance to chloroquine was recorded a few years ago in India. But the parasite’s newly-found resistance to artemesinin drugs has still not been studied here. “In India, artemesinin combination is used after a patient shows resistance to chloroquine,” said the official.

Recent trials have revealed that drugs commonly used to treat malaria are unable to clear the parasite from blood in two to three days, as it used to do before. It now takes at least four to five days.

Resistance to chloroquine was witnessed in places like Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and parts of Raigad in Maharashtra about 5 years ago. “The resistance was reported from areas where cases of P falciparum abound,” said Dr DS Dakhure, director, Maharashtra health services. “We use artemesinin and its derivatives if the patient does not respond to chloroquine. The treatment becomes effective if a full course of artemisinin combination therapy is taken.”

The NVBDCP official said, “As per our national policy, if any person has fever, he is given a dose of chloroquine irrespective of whether he is suffering from malaria or not. Also, a reason for rise in P falciparum is its resistance to chloroquine. Mortality may result in about 30 per cent of cases if not treated in time.”
 

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