Malaria at debate

1998/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

In the fight against malaria these moments are nothing rich in Africa. A new drug that just entered Africa faces its doctors.

So far, only quinine was used in Africa to fight malaria. In Southeast Asia, however, malaria has faced quinine and today it cannot be used as a medicine. This leads them to use another drug called Artemether.

The new drug has spread throughout Africa, but is currently only used in private hospitals, making it available to the richest. Although some doctors are concerned, quinine is still useful in Africa and at the moment it is not advisable to use the new drug.

According to supporters of not using it, the more the use of the new drug is delayed, since malaria will develop the defense mechanisms against this new drug later.

Officially, the drug Artemether can be used in severe cases and after showing that quinine has no task.

We must not forget that malaria kills two million people every year in Africa and, as you can think, behind this debate there are numerous laboratories and research centers interested.