New fight needed against malaria in Asia: Report

SYDNEY (AFP) - Asia accounts for 88 per cent of all malaria cases and most of the 46,000 annual deaths occurring outside Africa, a new report shows on Friday as experts demand more urgency in fighting the deadly disease.

Leading scientists and health experts meeting in Sydney this week at the "Malaria 2012: Saving Lives in the Asia-Pacific" conference also want tougher political leadership and regional coordination.

Most international efforts to defeat malaria have so far focused on Africa, where the majority of deaths occur.

But out of the 3.3 billion people at risk from the mosquito-borne disease, 2.5 billion live outside the African region.