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One million Gin and Tonics for World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day is an international event designed to highlight issues relating to the tropical disease. The day is marked each year on 25 April. The primary aim is to draw attention to global efforts to control malaria. The disease remains of considerable significance. with 3.3 billion people in 106 countries at risk of the mosquito transferred disease. Each year the disease is responsible for some 625,000 deaths, with the main affected areas being Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

World Malaria Day was originally Africa Malaria Day; it was later enlarged and incorporated into the activities of the World Health Organization. The first global event was in 2007.

Fever Tree is a U.K. based manufacturer of tonic water, and tonic water, as well as being closely associated as a mixer for the spirit gin, has a long history in the fight against malaria. Tonic water (sometimes referred to as Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink. It has one key ingredient: quinine. Originally the drink was used as a prophylactic against malaria. To make the drink palatable gin came to be added (originally populated in the days of British imperial rule of India during the Victorian era). During this time soldiers in the 19th Century were given a daily dose of quinine to help ward off malaria, which they would mix with their gin ration to make it more palatable.

Today tonic water contains a significantly lower quinine content, although quinine remains a key additive. The the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limits the quinine content in tonic water to 83 parts per million. Quinine was first isolated in 1820 from the bark of a cinchona tree and the earliest use of the bark as a medication dates back to 1632. Quinine remains on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.

Based on the tradition between tonic water and the battle against malaria, Fever Tree has pledged to donate 20 pence from each of 1 million Gin & Tonics consumed across the world on April, 25 2017. The funds will be given the charitable organization Malaria No More UK. Malaria No More UK is, according to its website: “part of a global effort to put an end to the suffering and death caused by malaria.”

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Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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