The War on Malaria: Next-Generation Vaccines and India's Elimination Goal
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science & Technology (Diseases, Vaccines - different types, mRNA, Gene Drives, CRISPR), Health (Malaria, Vector-borne diseases), Governance (Indian Council of Medical Research - ICMR, Government health missions).
Mains:
GS Paper 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Bio-technology.
GS Paper 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Key Highlights from the News
The global fight against malaria is in crisis due to drug resistance in parasites and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.
Though India has reduced its malaria burden by over 80%, the disease remains widespread in certain areas like tribal regions.
While Plasmodium falciparum is predominant in Africa, Plasmodium vivax, which causes relapses, is also a significant challenge in India.
Currently approved vaccines like RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M have limitations. Therefore, research for next-generation vaccines is rapidly progressing.
Key new vaccines include: whole-parasite vaccines (using weakened whole parasites), blood-stage vaccines (acting when symptoms appear), and transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) (preventing disease spread by mosquitoes).
India's first indigenous dual-stage malaria vaccine, AdFalciVax, is being developed by ICMR. It will help prevent infection and block transmission simultaneously.
Besides vaccines, innovative technologies like gene drives for mosquito sterilization are in research, utilizing gene-editing tools like CRISPR.
India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. Achieving this requires an integrated effort from science, policy, and public health.
COMMENTS