동남아시아 전역에서 가짜 말라리아 치료제가 유통되고 있으며 다른 대륙으로 확산됐을 수도 있다고 의학 연구진들이 밝혔습니다.
의학잡지 과학대중도서관 (Public Library of Science) 온라인판 보고서는 버마에서 말라리아에 감염된 23살의 남자는 가짜약을 복용해 사망했다고 말했습니다.
이들 연구진은 이 가짜 말라리아 치료제는 말라리아가 크게 확산되고 있는 사하라 사막 이남 아프리카 일부 지역에서도 유통되고 있을지 모른다고 경고했습니다.
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A U.S.-based medical organization says a fake malaria drug is circulating throughout Southeast Asia, and may spread to other continents.
A report published today (Tuesday) by the Public Library of Science said a 23-year old man in Burma who was infected with malaria died because the medicine that he was given was counterfeit.
The organization said counterfeit anti-malaria drugs is circulating on a vast scale in Southeast Asia. It said in sample test conducted, up to 52-percent of actual drug tablets (artesunate) for malaria contained the active ingredient needed to cure the disease.
The group is warning that the counterfeit drug may start circulating in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where spread of malaria is great.
Public Library of Science is also asking health organizations and clinics in both regions to do more to prevent the spread of the counterfeit drug.