14 June 2023 – Below we feature a compilation of headlines, scientific articles, and technical reports on innovations, R&D and elimination progress towards polio, malaria, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis. We will be publishing these updates bi-weekly and hope they are useful.

Vector Control

  • BOHEMIA a cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of an endectocide-based one health approach to malaria in Mozambique: baseline demographics and key malaria indicators – Link

Data

  • Population pharmacokinetic model of ivermectin in mass drug administration against lymphatic filariasis – Link
  • Predicting the risk of malaria re-introduction in countries certified malaria-free: a systematic review – Link

Drug and vaccine development

Drug resistance

  • Assessment of genetic polymorphisms associated with malaria antifolate resistance among the population of Libreville, Gabon – Link
  • Two transporters enable chloroquine resistance in malaria – Link
  • Insecticide resistance of Anopheles sinensis after elimination of malaria in Henan Province, China – Link

Immunisation

  • We finally have malaria vaccines. The next hurdle: Distributing them. – Link
  • Burundi launches first Polio vaccination campaign in I0 years – Link
  • UNICEF and WHO Representatives visit Henderson clinic to ensure quality of Polio vaccination campaign in Zimbabwe – Link
  • Sub-national immunization campaign launched to reach 23 million children – Link

Surveillance

  • Surveillance to track progress toward Poliomyelitis eradication — Worldwide, 2021–2022 – Link
  • Genomic-informed pathogen surveillance in Africa: opportunities and challenges – Link

Outbreak

  • Assessment of polio outbreak response in Ukraine brings country major step closer to official closure of the outbreak – Link

Climate and Health

  • Focus on health for global adaptation to climate change – Link
  • Launch of consultative process towards REACH 2035 Agenda: Research for Action on Climate Change and Health – Link
  • NIH funds first climate and health research coordinating center – Link

Other

  • What are the pathways between poverty and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review of mediation studies – Link 
  • Stronger defense: symptomatic malaria provides durable protection against reinfection – Link | Link to Paper
  • Researchers zero in on a potential new target for malaria: Biological clocks – Link | Link to Paper
  • Asymptomatic immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived poliovirus infections in two UK children – Link
  • Community engagement among forest goers in a malaria prophylaxis trial: implementation challenges and implications – Link
  • Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme Partners’ Meeting, 12–13 June 2023 – Link 
  • New platform to study how pathogens carrying mosquitoes impact and infect human cells and tissues – Link | Link to Paper
  • Opportunities and challenges of leveraging COVID-19 vaccine innovation and technologies for developing sustainable vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Africa – Link
  • Natural killer cells and antibodies versus malaria – Link
  • Prevalence of and risk factors for microscopic and submicroscopic malaria infections in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Link
  • Ghana Health Service launches mass drug administration – Link

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