New malaria vaccine the first to offer complete protection

Making the vaccine could be considered an act of revenge, since it involves killing hundreds of mosquitos.

CDC

Several vaccines for malaria have been developed over the past few decades, but none offer complete protection. Now, for the first time, US researchers have developed a vaccine that protects 100 percent of those given five doses of the vaccine, albeit in a very small trial.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. It affects more than 200 million people annually and, according to the World Health Organisation, it killed 660,000 people in 2010, most of them children. GlaxoSmithKline's Mosquirix is the most advanced malaria vaccine currently being tested. It protects against Pasmodium falciparum, the most deadly of the parasites.

But as Brian Greenwood of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told The Conversation, "Mosquirix is only about 50% effective when given to older children and even less effective (about 30 percent) when given to young infants with routine vaccines. A better vaccine with a higher level of protection is needed."