Breaking News English

Scientists have a breathalyzer to test people for malaria. The device could help the deadly disease much earlier than other methods and thus millions of people around the world. The researchers, from Washington University in St Louis, USA, say that people with malaria off a distinctive "breath print". The breathalyzer the chemicals that malaria as the person breathes into the device. One of the odours the device is identical to a natural smell that malaria-spreading insects such as mosquitos. The device still in its early stages of development. The researchers say it could to a new, cheap and easy way to help diagnose malaria.

The prototype breathalyzer six different odours or chemical compounds to instances of malaria. The researchers tests on 35 children in Malawi. They breath samples using the breathalyzer to test the accuracy of the machine. It accurately 29 of the children as having malaria. This a success rate of 83 per cent. Lead researcher Audrey Odom John said: "It's clear that if we fast, easy-to-use, reliable diagnostic devices…we could unnecessary antibiotic use. This would have a major impact on the control of malaria, because all current diagnostic methods blood sampling." Malaria currently around 430,000 a year around the world.