Drug-resistant Malaria

Drug-resistant malaria is a form of malaria that is no longer effectively treated with commonly-used antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, mefloquine, and sulfadoxine. This form of malaria has become increasingly widespread in recent years, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where a number of drug-resistant species of malaria-causing parasites have been identified. Treatment of drug-resistant malaria typically involves more complex, expensive, and less-available drugs, putting those in malaria-endemic areas at increased risk of contracting the disease. Furthermore, drug-resistant malaria increases the difficulty of controlling and eliminating malaria from areas where it is endemic, thus threatening global efforts to eradicate the disease. As a result, drug-resistant malaria is a major public health concern and requires continual monitoring and investigation by researchers.