A fast and low-cost way of detecting malaria is showing promising results.

The disease affected 29 people in the Townsville region in the past two years.

The mosquito-borne illness is easy to treat but hard to diagnose.

A new test led by James Cook University detects the magnetic properties in malaria-infected blood.

Researchers hope to refine the prototype, so the test could eventually be performed at the touch of a button.