We reported a few weeks ago that there was an advanced clinical trial to develop a vaccine for the plasmodium falciparum strain of malaria. The very first clinical trial is now taking place for a vaccine against plasmodium vixax malaria in Washington (Walter Reed Army Institute for Research). Plasmodium vivax is one of the most common types of malaria and people involved in the trial are being bitten by infected mosquitos that carry the virus.

The vaccine which boosts the body’s immunity was administered in different doses to 28 volunteer’s months prior to the infection. The mosquitos were then imported from Thailand and infected with the plasmodium vivax strand of malaria and the patients received five bites each to ensure infection.

It will be a week before we know of the success of the trial. The participants are staying at a hotel in Maryland and are being looked after by a medical team there. Rooms have been made into laboratories and clinics for the testing of infected blood. Without these volunteers, vital human testing would not be possible. Although they are paid several thousand dollars for their participation, many of them are taking part in the study with the hope of finding a cure for the disease that infects up to 300 million people every year.