A new vaccine and improved public health measures mean malaria could one day be totally eliminated around the world, according to Professor Luke O’Neill.

Around half a million children die from malaria around the world each year – and it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Trinity Professor Luke O’Neill said the disease was once common in northern Europe – including in Ireland – but now causes the most damage in the tropics.

He said Africa and South America are among the worst-impacted countries – with 94% of the world’s cases detected in Africa.

Just this week, however, one Central American country became the latest to declare itself malaria-free.

“Belize has joined the 41 countries in total that are now malaria-free,” said Professor O’Neill.

“What that means is anybody going on holidays to these countries doesn’t need to worry about taking the anti-malaria meds.”

A Mosquito from the jungles of Belize, Central America.

He said the country eliminated the disease through stiff public health measures and a new vaccine that was released in the past year.

“[It involved] lots of epidemiology,” he said. “They were using these nets soaked in this anti-mosquito stuff and they would diagnose people and treat people quickly.

“Monitoring was the answer in the end really. Very, sort of, elaborate monitoring.”

A Mosquito from the jungles of Belize, Central America. Image: Gabbro / Alamy

Prof O'Neill said the new Mosquirix vaccine offers 40% protection.

“That means 40% less children are dying from malaria – in Africa mainly,” he said.

“So, in other words, it is all going in the right direction, and this should continue. This is the first big breakthrough.”

He said the vaccine and elimination through public health measures are a “double whammy” that could eventually see malaria eliminated.

“It will take a while obviously because you have got to the get the vaccine out to everybody – but smallpox was eventually eliminated through vaccination.”

Cromwell caught a terrible fever in Cork, thought to be malaria, and his health never recovered.

The Rebel County can claim an assist here. https://t.co/sDKUymuewH

— Neil Jackman (@JackmanNeil) September 3, 2020

While malaria is now most prevalent in the tropics, Prof O’Neill said it was once present in Ireland – with one of the country’s most infamous invaders falling victim to it.

“It was in Ireland at one time amazingly – back in the 1500s,” he said.

“Oliver Cromwell died of malaria amazingly, so it has been around for a long time.”

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