Malaria researchers are getting closer to outsmarting the world’s deadliest parasite

After decades of stalled progress, new vaccines, treatments and genetic tools are helping scientists protect children and save lives worldwide.

By: Kwesi Akonu Adom Mensah Forson, University of Virginia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 26, 2026

Words: 1,260

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Kwesi Akonu Adom Mensah Forson, University of Virginia

Every year, malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide. Most of them are children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. But the disease isn’t confined to poor, rural areas – it’s a global threat that travels with people across borders.

For decades, the fight against malaria has felt like running in place. Bed nets and drugs save lives, but the family of parasites that cause …

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