WHO malaria envoy spreads nets over southern Africa

LIVINGSTONE, Zambia (Reuters) - A Belgian princess and WHO malaria envoy, launching an initiative to distribute 135 million mosquito nets in southern Africa, told Zambians on Friday only a worldwide campaign would defeat the disease.

"The solution to the fight against malaria must be global and we need to fight hard and fast because time is running out," Princess Astrid, special World Health Organisation (WHO) envoy, said on world malaria day.

Malaria, caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes, kills at up to 3 million people a year, 90 percent of them in Africa. Nets are a cheap and effective preventative measure.

(Writing By Shapi Shacinda)