Teenage motorcyclist plunges to 21-meter depth from DASH overpass in Shah Alam, leading to his unfortunate demise according to police report.
MalariaCare+, a groundbreaking AI system developed by a team at Universiti Malaya (UM), is set to support Malaysia's malaria elimination roadmap. This innovative tool is designed specifically for neglected tropical diseases, making it particularly suitable for low-resource settings and users who are well-versed in the field.
The leading cause of human malaria in Malaysia is Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic strain that predominantly affects the states of Sabah and Sarawak. MalariaCare+ aims to address this issue by providing a powerful tool that can help clinicians understand the stage of the parasite in a patient, enabling faster and personalised treatment.
At the heart of MalariaCare+ is a deep learning AI model that uses a graph-enhanced YOLO model to detect malaria-infected red blood cells, even in densely overlapping regions. This advanced technology is not only accurate but also user-friendly, as it has been designed to be mobile-compatible.
The upgraded version of MalariaCare+ includes several exciting features such as real-time inference, visual explainability, and longitudinal patient tracking. These enhancements are set to make the tool even more effective in the fight against malaria.
The AI tool has already been integrated into a working app for human malaria detection and is currently being tested using real blood smears sourced from Sarawak, including those from Kapit Hospital, and processed at Unimas. Discussions are underway to include MalariaCare+ in training modules at Unimas and UM, helping students understand the power of technology in public health.
The team behind MalariaCare+ is also working on making the app more field-ready. This includes developing capabilities to connect with smartphone-linked microscopes, store patient history securely, and operate with limited internet. The goal is to create a tool that can be effectively used in remote areas where resources may be limited.
Associate Prof Khairunnisa Hasikin, the project lead for MalariaCare+, can be contacted for more information about the project at [email protected]. The potential of MalariaCare+ lies not only in its ability to revolutionise malaria detection in Malaysia but also in inspiring cross-border adoption and collaboration throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.
The partnership between Universiti Malaya (UM), Unimas, and frontline clinical settings is crucial for the functionality and timeliness of the MalariaCare+ project. The revolution taking place in Kapit Hospital, Sarawak, involves the use of MalariaCare+ for detecting human malaria. The goal of MalariaCare+ is to provide a second set of expert eyes to doctors and clinicians, not to replace them.
The development of MalariaCare+ was supported by the AI for Medicine Research Grant Scheme 2025. As the fight against malaria continues, MalariaCare+ stands as a beacon of hope for improved diagnostic tools and a step closer to eliminating this disease in Malaysia.
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