Comparative trial on the response of Plasmodium falciparum to halofantrine and mefloquine in Trat Province, eastern Thailand.

With the appearance of strains of Plasmodium falciparum in the Trat Province, eastern Thailand, reported to have developed resistance to mefloquine there is a need for an alternative drug. This comparative trial with mefloquine and halofantrine has demonstrated extremely low cure rates with both drugs (33.3% and 28.13% respectively), cross-resistance is suggested.