Malaria research in Laos

LOMWRU carries out clinical malaria research in Savannakhet and Attapeu Provinces, southern Laos, in collaboration with the Centre for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vientiane and the provincial malaria stations. Clinical trials and malaria epidemiology studies are conducted there and are run by Dr Mayfong Mayxay, Head of Field Research. Clinical trials have provided evidence that artemisinin derivative combination therapies (ACTs) are locally appropriate treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria and are superior to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. In response to these and other trials the Government of Lao PDR changed to artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in 2005. We are currently determining whether  artemisinin resistant falciparum malaria is present in southern Laos as part of the  “Tracking Resistance to Artemisinins Collaboration” (TRAC), funded by DFID (UK).