Fake Artesunate and Its Impact on Malaria Control
Author Information
Author(s): P. N. Newton, R. McGready, F. Fernandez, M. D. Green, M. Sunjio, P. Millet, C. Bruneton, S. Phanouvong, C. J. M. Whitty, H. Kaur, B. M. Greenwood, A. O. Talisuna, E. M. Christophel, K. Palmer, G. Malenga, K. Bojang
Primary Institution: Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford
Hypothesis
Can counterfeit artesunate compromise malaria treatment in Africa and Asia?
Conclusion
Fake artesunate poses a significant threat to malaria control efforts, potentially leading to increased mortality and drug resistance.
Supporting Evidence
- Counterfeit artesunate tablets have been found to contain no active ingredient.
- The counterfeit drug trade is sophisticated and targets the poorest populations.
- Deaths from fake artesunate are likely underreported in mortality statistics.
- The presence of counterfeit drugs could lead to increased drug resistance.
Takeaway
Some fake malaria medicines look real but don't work, which can make people very sick or even die. We need to be careful about what medicines we buy.
Limitations
The study relies on anecdotal evidence and lacks comprehensive data on the prevalence of counterfeit drugs.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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