Breakthrough malaria vaccine tantalizingly close

(CNN) -- A malaria vaccine has eluded scientists for decades, but preliminary results from a phase 3 clinical trial in Africa are providing hope.

The data suggest that the vaccine, known as RTS,S, cuts the number of malaria cases in half.

Overall 15,000 children in seven African countries are participating in the trial, which represents the furthest that any malaria vaccine candidate has ever progressed.

The preliminary results, which were announced at a malaria forum hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, covered 6,000 of the participating children, all aged between 5 and 17 months.  Read More