Mozambique eyes 2010 malaria vaccine

Malaria causes about 350 – 500 million infections in humans annually

A first vaccine against malaria could be on the market by 2010 following trials in Mozambique. Aida Libombo, the country's deputy health minister, says tests are still being conducted in Manhica province. He says it will cost R450 million to develop the vaccine.

Mozambican officials announced in July 2002 that they had begun testing a drug that could be developed into a malaria vaccine.

Some four million Mozambicans suffer from malaria every year and one out of 10 patients eventually die. Mozambique spends about six million dollars annually to fight malaria.

Malaria parasites are transmitted primarily by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Plasmodium invades and consume the red blood cells of their host, which leads to symptoms including fever, anaemia, chills, flu like illness, and in severe cases, a coma potentially leading to death.