News Health & Medicine

A newly approved drug could be a boon for treating malaria

But people with a certain genetic mutation who use tafenoquine could be at risk of anemia

mosquito

STEALTHY SUCKER  This Anopheles albimanus mosquito is one of several species that can transmit the recurring form of malaria. A new drug could help stem such relapses.

CDC Global/Flickr (CC By 2.0)

By Leah Rosenbaum

- More than 2 years ago

The first new treatment in 60 years for a particularly stubborn kind of malaria is raising hopes that it might help eradicate the disease, even though the treatment can cause a dangerous side effect.