Malaria: A deadly scourge and formidable foe

Malaria, transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito,shows a significant rising trend in Africa and is a yet to be conquered disease.Of the species affecting humans, P. falciparium is the most virulent and found in tropical Africa, Asia and Latin America. Malaria is commonly reported as the leading cause of death from an infectious disease in Sub-saharan Africa. Treatment and control have become more difficult because of drug and vector resistances. New drug targets are being developed.Improved knowledge and availability of new techniques gives reasons to believe that vaccination against malaria is going to be possible. It is hoped that malaria would be eradicated in this genomic era with the genomic sequence of P. falciparium, P. vivax and Anopheles gambiae released.