Page "Foreign relations of the Comoros" Paragraph 9

A comprehensive Chinese-assisted treatment campaign has apparently eliminated malaria from the Comorian island of Moheli ( population 36, 000 ).

Administered by Li Guoqiao at the Tropical Medicine Institute, the program relies on hybrid Artemisia annua of hybrid ancestry, which was used for a drug regimen by which all residents of the island, whether or not visibly ill, took two doses at a 40-day interval.

This eliminated the human reservoir of the disease and reduced hospital admissions to 1 % or less of January 2008 levels.

Visitors to Moheli are now required to take antimalarial drugs, a mix of artemisinin, primaquine and pyrimethamine that China provides for free.

When asked about Artemisia exports, Li was quoted, " We want to grow them in China and whatever we export depends on bilateral relationships.

" Comoros has requested a similar program for Grande Comore and Anjouan, total population 760, 000, and Li said that Beijing has agreed in principle.