A new study of the prevalence of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax shows that it is more widespread and potentially represents a greater burden on human health in some parts of the world than P falciparum, the species usually associated with the greatest mortality and morbidity.

A new evidence based global distribution map of P vivax estimates that 2.85 billion people lived at risk of infection with this parasite in 2009, predominantly in east and central Asia (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000774).

The study, conducted as part of the Malaria Atlas Project, a multinational research collaboration funded mainly by the Wellcome Trust, challenges the idea that …