VietNamNet Bridge – There is fresh evidence of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites appearing in central and southern Vietnam and south-eastern Myanmar, according to WHO officials.

At a meeting on September 27 as part of the 63rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific underway in Hanoi, they warned that regional countries should take effective measures against the artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites.

The new species of parasite have been found to appear along the Thailand- Cambodia and Thailand-Myanmar border.

Judging by a 62 percent increase in malaria-related deaths in ten years (2000-2010), WHO officials warned that if the mosquito-borne disease is not controlled strictly, the artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites will spread far and wide.

So far, 10 out of 37 nations and territories in the Asia-Pacific region have been suffering from malaria transmitted by mosquitoes.

WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Shin Young-Soo emphasised the urgent need to deal with the issue at any cost for the sake of a malaria-free region.

He called on regional countries to supervise the quality of malaria drugs, prevent the circulation of counterfeit medicines, and increase international cooperation.

VietNamNet/VOV