It’s a breakthrough moment for the treatment of malaria. Just two days before World Malaria Day 2019, doctors in sub-Saharan Africa began immunizing children with the world’s first malaria vaccine.
This is welcome news. Health experts predict the medicine could save the lives of tens of thousands of children each year.
As recently as 2016 the world experienced 216 million new cases of malaria. Mosquitos may seem like an annoying summertime pest to people in many countries, but in others, a bite can be deadly. World Malaria Day, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), falls on April 25.
While malaria is not contagious, anyone can get it. Symptoms include fever, sweats, chills, headaches, malaise, muscles aches, nausea, and vomiting.