Nairobi — A malaria-proof mosquito has finally been developed and Kenya is expected to use it to eradicate the disease in seven years.

An earlier attempt to create a genetically altered mosquito that could not infect humans with malaria failed because the insect was not 100 per cent malaria proof -- but now researchers at the University of Arizona, US, say they have made the perfect insect.

While the Pharmacy and Poisons Board has issued strong directives on the manufacture and distribution of malaria medicines, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, which starts a national data collection exercise on malaria indicators Saturday morning, says it will use a combination of tools, including bed nets, education, new innovations and medicines to meet the 2017 targets.

To protect the current first line malaria medicines against losing effectiveness, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board has re-directed that it will only register malaria drugs containing an ingredient called artemesinin in combination with other approved molecules.

It has also banned the use of popular malaria medicines containing a molecule called amodiaquine unless it is used in combination with artemisinin. Artemisinin is extracted from a Chinese herb, which is gaining popularity among Kenyan farmers.

Malaria drugs previously known as SP such as Fansider will only be used for parasite control in pregnant women.

"Our inspectors have been asked to confiscate all antimalarial medicines not complying with these directives," says a board directive.

On Friday the Public Health ministry said it will start a three-month malaria survey on Saturday morning.

High risk

On Thursday, researchers at the University of Arizona, in what coincided with a significant finding in Kilifi, said they had made a breakthrough in the fight against malaria by creating a mosquito that can no longer give the disease to humans.

The modified mosquitoes exist in a highly secured lab environment with no chance of escape.

The researchers are now searching for a way to replace wild mosquito populations with the lab-bred ones, a breakthrough they claim could pave the way to a world in which malaria is history.

At the time of this report, a team of researchers from Kenya, Britain and Germany reported that people at high risk of malaria may find relief from taking a cocktail of antibiotics.

The study, done at Kemri in Kilifi, found the antibiotics to work in controlling malaria in mice.