Scientists Derive Unique Method To Counter Malaria—Feed Mosquitos With Drugs

What if, instead of killing mosquitoes to stop malaria, we simply cured them? Harvard scientists have come up with a unique solution—giving mosquitoes anti-malarial drugs could turn these notorious disease-carriers into harmless biters. Malaria—a parasitic disease spread by female mosquitoes—causes nearly 600,000 deaths annually, most of them in children. Traditional prevention efforts have focused on insecticide-coated bed nets, which work by creating a physical barrier and killing mosquitoes that land on them. Many more solutions have emerged in modern times, but the latest proposal asks for curing and not killing the mosquitoes.

What Is Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and fatigue. In some cases, especially when untreated, malaria can cause severe complications such as organ failure, difficulty breathing, or even death. The symptoms typically appear 10 to 15 days after being bitten and can resemble those of the flu, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial.

Scientists Identify Two Drugs That Kill Malaria Parasites

To address the lowering resistance to drugs, Harvard researchers tested a variety of drugs on malaria-infected mosquitoes and identified two that kill all parasites when absorbed through the insect's legs. The idea is to add these drugs to bed nets, so even if a mosquito survives contact, it will no longer be able to spread malaria. Study co-author Alexandra Probst calls the research, published in the journal Nature, a novel approach, noting that the malaria parasite is less likely to develop resistance to these drugs due to the limited number found in each mosquito compared to an infected human.

Lab results look promising: The drug treatment lasts up to a year on treated materials, potentially making it a durable and cost-effective alternative to current methods. The next phase—testing these drug-coated nets in real-world conditions—will begin in Ethiopia. Results aren't expected for at least six years, but the hope is to eventually combine both drugs and insecticides on nets, providing a two-pronged strategy against malaria transmission. "Malaria control desperately needs innovation," says study co-author Flaminia Catteruccia in a release. "This is a momentous step forward in the development of a new mosquito-targeted malaria control strategy."

Here's How You Can Identify Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries and is preventable and curable. The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person. Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mild symptoms include fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection.

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