MALARIA DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – HEALTH)

Context: The recently tested R21/MatrixM malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, received a recommendation after a phase-3 trial in African countries.R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine

• R21/Matrix-M is a vaccine against malaria, developed by the University of Oxford in the UK. The vaccine showed an efficacy of 77% in phase 1 and phase 2 trials. 
• The vaccine showed a high efficacy of 80% as a result of a booster dose even after two years.
• This vaccine is designed to stop the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite from entering the liver and preventing the subsequent deadly blood stages.

Malaria

• About: It is a mosquito-borne blood disease caused by plasmodium protozoa.

o The parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Cause: It is a life threatening disease caused by plasmodium parasites.
• Transmission: Bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

o In the human body, parasites initially multiply in liver cells and then attack the Red Blood Cells (RBCs).

• Distribution: Tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America and Asia.
• Symptoms: Fever and flu-like illness, including chills, headache, muscle ache and fatigue.