UV, Vitamin B mash-up reduces malaria risk in sub-Saharan region

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A team of researchers at Cambridge, UK, and Kumasi, Ghana discovered a revolutionary blood treatment technology that could minimize the risk of transfussion -transmitted malaria in sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Reserchers said that the fusion of Ultraviolet radiation and Vitamin B could cut the chances of malaria infection following blood transfusion.

In the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, a large chunk of population carry parasite of malaria -Plasmodium falciparum, which gets transmitted through mosquito bites. These parasites resides on the body of human beings and do not show any clinical symptoms.

For the first time ever, the study pinpoints at pathogen-reduction technology in a real-world treatment setting and finds that although the risk of malaria transmission is not completely eliminated, the risk can be severely reduced.

The technology which is not yet available for commercial purprose also holds the potential of killing other blood-borne germs like HIV, Ebola and Zika.

Researchers claims that UV-vitamin B fusion will be extremely effective in protecting pregnant women and children who are especially vulnerable to malaria.

The study, published in the Lancet is remarkable gift to the entire world ahead World Malaria Day.

(With ANI inputs)