- Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the first-line treatments for malaria. ACTs are highly effective, but malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite is becoming resistant to some ACTs. ACT-resistant malaria has shown up in some parts of Cambodia, but not yet in other parts of the country. This has been shown by treating patients with ACTs, checking the amount of parasites in the patient s blood every 6 hours, and calculating the rate of parasite clearance. The parasite clearance rate in response to ACTs is getting slower in western Cambodia and may be the first sign of ACT resistance. Researchers want to study how effective ACTs are in different regions of Cambodia. This study will look at the extent of ACT resistance and how widespread ACT-resistant malaria has become.