The importance and future of malaria research in Africa.

Malaria is a major threat to public health and economic development in Africa. Current estimates indicate that at least one to three million children die of malaria each year in Africa alone. Efforts to eradicate malaria have failed and parasite resistance to the most commonly used and affordable anti-malarial drugs is developing rapidly. Insecticide resistance in the vector is also an evolving problem. A malaria vaccine is the subject of much research but its testing is incomplete and full deployment remains a distant goal.