Fears over 'monkey malaria' leap to humans

A deadly strain of malaria has made the leap from monkeys to humans and is causing concern in Malaysia.

Scientists warned that "monkey malaria" might be more widespread among humans than previously thought.

This type of malaria is known as Plasmodium Knowlesi and mostly exists in macaque monkeys.

The cross-species transmission of parasites is rare, but increased land clearing, for farming and logging, has pushed humans and monkeys into closer contact with each other.

Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports from Sarawak, Malaysia.