The spread of molecular markers of artemisinin partial resistance and diagnostic evasion in Eritrea: a retrospective molecular epidemiology study

     This paper of the day published in Lancet talks about the artemisinin resistance growing in malaria-endemic countries, Mutations 622I combined with decreased vulnerability to artemisinin-based treatments have become much more prevalent in Eritrea. Also, the study has found high frequencies of deletions in pfhrp2/pfhrp3 that might pose a challenge to RDTs. This poses a significant threat to efforts to control malaria: drug resistance in combination with limitations in diagnosis. New diagnostic techniques, ongoing observation, and the use of alternate therapeutic approaches are called for in dealing with this developing epidemic.