A vaccine for malaria, which was developed by Irish and UK scientists, has undergone its first human trials.

Malaria is a tropical disease that is usually transmitted following a bite from an infected mosquito. According to the World Health Organisation, around 207 million cases of the disease occurred in 2012 and 627,000 people died as a result.

In recent years, the number of cases reported in Ireland has risen as a result of increased travel. In 2013, the highest number of reported cases here occurred in African people, now resident in Ireland, who were exposed to malaria while visiting their country of origin.

A total of 71 cases were reported in Ireland last year, a 9% increased on 2012's figure.

This latest vaccine was developed by scientists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), in collaboration with scientists from the University of Oxford.

Its first human trial found the vaccine to be safe in 24 volunteers and according to the RCSI, the results are ‘very promising'.

The vaccine is now set to move to phase two trials at the University of Oxford.