Well, this is an older thread, but... there are so many myths about malaria... ALL forms of malaria can be cured, but... (I've had recurrent vivax, as well as dengue and chikungunya fever over the years. Bleagh! is all I can say, and I hope I have learned better.)

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, most of which are night-biters, which is why bednets at night are important, as well as long sleeves and trousers, used with repellent* on exposed areas - but in some locations, such as Vanuatu and Papua - New Guinea, there are species of Anopheles that are active during cloudy days. Malaria is thought to be avian in origin (shades of avian flu HN51!) that mutated to infect humans; there are many varieties of avian malaria.

There are several kinds of malaria: Plasmodium vivax and and P. ovale are the recurrent ones, and they are not anywhere nearly as dangerous as the worst, chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria (P. falciparum is the specific organism involved with this one, and infection with CRFM can be fatal.) CRFM is resistant to most common drugs used for malarial prophylaxis, and seems quite adept at mutating to deal with newer drugs - Mefloquine (Lariam) was recommended to me by a physician for a trip to PNG, for example, but when I was there I found that perhaps 30% of CRFM was occurring already to people using Mefloquine as prophylaxis. (I eschewed using it anyway, as Mefloquine has some nasty side effects - and sometimes mimics decompression illness, not good for divers.)

I used to get my Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) in the UK, NZ or Australia before it was approved for US use. When traveling to places with CRFM during dry season, staying offshore on a liveaboard dive boat (PNG,) etc. and the risk is lower for contracting malaria, I take Malarone with me, and use it presumptively to treat malarial symptoms (no, I have never had to use it.) That way I have a very effective medication that has few side effects for most, yet I am not contributing to the problem of a rapidly mutating organism's resitance to this new and very effective drug.

Artemisin, first identified and long-used in China is a natural product of Artemisia annua, or sweet wormwood (absynthe makes the heart grow warmer? not really, that's A. absinthium...) is also supposed to be most effective, is being synthesized by several pharmaceutical firms and is in trials in several CRFM-infested part sof the world (such as East Africa.) If they pass tests and approval, there soon may be a low cost alternative to malarone and others.

*Repellents (the CDC information in the malaria section is not well updated yet.) DEET up to 30% (more is not better, and DEET has some problems of its own, especially with children and infants,) lemon eucalyptus oil (30% is good) and picaridin (not quite as long-lasting,) are all approved for use against mozzies. Avon skin-so-soft, citronella and the like are not recommended unless you want to be the Guinea pig - they seem to work against some biting insects, not others.

Useful sources for information include:

IAMAT - the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers in Canada has excellent information on malaria and other diseases, plus members get a booklet with screened worldwide physicians who also agree to set fees.

CDC malaria pages - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similar information is available from UK, Australia, Canada and other countries' health organisations.

Caveat: I am not a physician, and I do not give medical advice. I do travel to CRFM areas including southern and east Africa, PNG, Vanuatu... and prefer to be informed and prevent malaria for me and mine.