A recent study, looking at data from 2007, has suggested that of the 183 million African children under 5 who sought treatment for fever 43% were likely to have malaria. The common assumption is that all childhood fevers are caused by malaria and so the child is given anti-malaria treatment unnecessarily. This depletes stocks of the treatment and may also increase the chances of P.falciparum becoming resistant to current anti-malaria drugs.

This emphasises the need for accurate, rapid diagnostic tests for malaria which are simple, cheap and effective. The study, which breaks down the data geographically, may also help in prioritising where the anti-malarial spend is focused.

Madness Against Malaria is down to two teams. The Beantown 'Skeeter-beater Tetra-peaters have won the competition 3 years running and are aiming to make this their 4th title. This year they are up against newcomers Nests Shop who have been one step ahead of the current champions all through the final with lots of back and forth.

As I write the two finalists have raised over US$ 5,000 between them in the final round alone! That is enough to buy nearly 1,200 long lasting nets, protecting 2,400 children, on average. Currently Nests Shop have the edge, but only by 27 nets!

With only one day to go who will prevail? Check out the teams and lend them a hand!

Now is the perfect time to swim and help in the fight against malaria!

There are only a few weeks to go before World Swim 2010 starts; a great time to register your swim, tell friends and family and get involved.

Join the Speedo Elite Athletes

Among those swimming are:  Michael Phelps (USA), Libby Trickett (AUS), Rebecca Addlington (GB), Eamon Sullivan (AUS), Katie Hoff (USA), Natalie Coughlin (USA), Liam Tancock (GB), Emily Seebohm (AUS), Filippo Magnini (Italy)

"I'm honoured to join Speedo in an effort to organise a swim around the world in support of World Swim Against Malaria and help stop the spread of this deadly disease. I hope that we encourage as many people as possible to join Team Speedo on June 25th to complete the round the world swim for this great cause." Michael Phelps

"Malaria remains one of the world's most deadly diseases, and that's why it's important to do all we can to help prevent it. Getting into the pool on June 25th is a really simple way to save lives, so I hope that as many people as possible get involved with World Swim Against Malaria, claim their Speedo swimwear, and raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause." Rebecca Addlington

"When it comes to our participation in World Swim Against Malaria, it doesn't matter how fast I swim, Emily swims, Michael, Natalie, Katie, Rebecca, Filippo swim... each of us count as 1 person swimming. If YOU swim, that's one more towards the target of one million swimming. This is a great cause. Great if you will swim too." Libby Trickett

Speedo have given 35,000 pieces of swimwear (see the items) to World Swim Against Malaria and now all you have to do to get an item is donate a minimum of $5 (the cost of 1 bed net). Donating over $20 will get you a maximum 4 items, all you pay for is postage and packaging.

Speedo have generously donated the items as part of the "Swim around the World" campaign and now donors and sponsors can take up Speedo's offer of swimwear.

And if you are going to get some swimwear why not register your swim first and log your distances to help us collectively swim around the world!

FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) has declared its continued support for World Swim Against Malaria. In a recent letter to FINA's 202 National Member Federations, FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione said:

"I am delighted this initiative continues to thrive in our sport of swimming. I believe it is a great advertisement for the strength and values of the community of swimmers around the world. I hope you will join FINA in supporting World Swim Against Malaria and in extending the invitation for swimmers to participate everywhere." 

FINA Press Release: Memo_FINA_Speedo_2010_05_20.pdf (90.78 kb)

The BBC have reported on a new study by a research group at Oxford University which says that climate change will have little effect on the spread of malaria in comparison with ongoing control measures.

Epidemiologoist Peter Gething and Simon Hay of the Malaria Atlas Project, who also supply the malaria maps used on our own site, said, "the impact of public-health measures such as improved medications, widespread insecticide use and bed nets have overwhelmed the influence of climate change."

The paper was published today in Nature.

talkSPORT, one of the UK's top sports radio stations, and Against Malaria have joined forces to launch Your World Cup Final. Earlier today Against Malaria's founder, Rob Mather was on-air to explain how and why people should get involved (download the mp3).

Simply choose (or make up) your teams and play whenever and wherever you want during the World Cup! In the office, the park or a 5-a-side pitch, it's up to you!

Register your game at AgainstMalaria.com/talkSPORT and you'll get your own customised page on the site where you can tell everyone about your match, provide photos, post match reports and more.  

The first of the Team Speedo international elite athletes to join Speedo in this year's World Swim Against Malaria is the swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps! The most successful Olympian of all time will take to the water on June 25th as part of the world's largest participatory swim event.

Speedo has also announced its continued support in the fight against malaria by donating 35,000 items of men's, women's and children's swimwear to those who participate in the swim. By registering as a Speedo Swimmer you can claim an item of swimwear for each $5(US) donated.

Many of you will have been following Peter Gostelow as he cycles from England to Cape Town across west, central and southern Africa.

Unfortunately Peter was attacked, injured and robbed in Dakar, Senegal a couple of weeks ago. The good news is Peter is recovering well and still hopes to continue his epic trip as soon as he is able. 

Peter is putting his 'down time' to good use and has also posted several collections of his fantastic images from the journey so far, covering Europe and Africa. He has also just reached the £6000 mark on his fundraising page!

Our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.