A collaborative epidemiological investigation into the criminal fake artesunate trade in South East Asia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since 1998 the serious public health problem in South East Asia of counterfeit artesunate, containing no or subtherapeutic amounts of the active antimalarial ingredient, has led to deaths from untreated malaria, reduced confidence in this vital drug, large economic losses for the legitimate manufacturers, and concerns that artemisinin resistance might be engendered.

Methods and findings

With evidence of a deteriorating situation, a group of police, criminal analysts, chemists, palynologists, and health workers collaborated to determine the source of these counterfeits under the auspices of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the Western Pacific World Health Organization Regional Office. A total of 391 samples of genuine and counterfeit ar

SUBMITTER: Newton PN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2235893 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature