Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
30 April 2013 11:53
Parasites which cause malaria, transmitted by mosquitos (pictured), have been found to be resistant to common treatments
Three distinct groups of the parasite which causes malaria have been found in new drug-resistant forms, scientists say. Genetically different parasites were identified in Cambodia, which were found to survive treatment by the common drug artemisinin. It is a stark reminder of the importance of having medical travel insurance.
Resistance to the drug was reported back in 2008 in the western area of the country and instances have since spread to other parts of south-east Asia. Parasites in the region have developed resistance to anti-malaria drugs since the 1950s and scientists have never been able to establish why this is the case. The worry now is that the same thing happens with artemisinin.
Scientists recently sequenced the genomes of 800 Plasmodium falciparum (parasites which cause the disease) found around the planet. They say they discovered three groups of parasites in the south-east Asia region which withstand anti-malaria drugs.
Lead researcher Olivo Miotto, who works at both Oxford University and Mahidol University in Thailand, said: "All the most effective drugs that we have had in the last few decades have been one by one rendered useless by the remarkable ability of this parasite to mutate and develop resistance. Artemisinin right now works very well. It is the best weapon we have against the disease and we need to keep it."
The research was published in the journal Nature Genetics.
15 August 2018
A simple blood test could help GPs detect a rare form of bone marrow cancer much earlier, a new study suggests.
[more...]
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.
01 August 2018
A plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.
31 July 2018
The head of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways, is 'optimistic' about a legal challenge to end crippling strikes.