14 March 2024 – 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

  • Insecticide susceptibility status of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes and the effect of pre-exposure to a piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist on resistance to deltamethrin in northern Namibia – Link
  • Targeted gene editing could limit spread of insect-borne disease – Link
  • Prevention of malaria in pregnancy through health education intervention programs on insecticide-treated nets use: a systematic review – Link
  • First report of natural infection of Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles coluzzii by Wolbachia and Microsporidia in Benin: a cross-sectional study – Link
  • Insecticide-treated bed nets and residual indoor spraying reduce malaria in areas with low transmission: a reanalysis of the Maltrials study – Link

Data

  • Identifying childhood malaria hotspots and risk factors in a Nigerian city using geostatistical modelling approach – Link
  • NASA satellites revolutionize malaria orevention by forecasting outbreaks in Amazon – Link

Drug resistance

  • Adult mosquitoes of the sibling species Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii exhibit contrasting patterns of susceptibility to four neonicotinoid insecticides along an urban-to-rural gradient in Yaoundé, Cameroon – Link 
  • Measuring insecticide resistance in a vacuum: exploring next steps to link resistance data with mosquito control efficacy – Link

Immunisation

  • Zimbabwe surpasses 4 million target during polio vaccination using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine type (nOPV2)  – Link
  • Somalia targets over 2.7 million children in polio vaccination drive – Link
  • Cameroon seeks to vaccinate 1 mln children in polio campaign – Link

Elimination progress

  • Annual report NTDs 2023 – Link
  • Malaria elimination proof of concept? – Link
  • Progress towards malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion: perspectives from the World Health Organization – Link

Outbreak

  • Sudan to respond to new emergence of variant poliovirus in Red Sea State – Link

Climate and Health

  • Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions – Link
  • Climate change and health: five insights from the frontline – Link

Other

  • Mass drug administration for neglected tropical disease control and elimination: a systematic review of ethical reasons – Link
  • Acute malnutrition raises risk of malaria treatment failure in young children – Link
  • Community’s knowledge, perceptions and preventive practices on Onchocerciasis in Jimma zone, Ethiopia, formative mixed study – Link
  • Factors related to willingness to participate in biomedical research on neglected tropical diseases: A systematic review – Link
  • Ancient malaria genome from Roman skeleton hints at disease’s history – Link
  • Malaria vaccination: hurdles to reach high-risk children – Link
  • The role of WHO guidelines in shaping global health policies – Link
  • Impact assessment of onchocerciasis through lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment surveys using Ov-16 rapid diagnostic tests in Sierra Leone – Link
  • Close research partnership with African scientists helps solve mystery of malaria-like illnesses – Link | Link to Paper
  • Factors affecting delays in seeking treatment among malaria patients during the pre-certification phase in China – Link
  • Women on the frontlines of polio eradication in Afghanistan – Link
  • Copy-paste” genetic mechanism increases the genetic diversity of malaria parasite – Link | Link to Paper
  • Polio eradication initiative – Link
  • African health ministers commit to end malaria deaths – Link
  • Announcing new initiatives to maximize efficiencies of medicine donation programmes for neglected tropical diseases – Link 
  • Early morning anopheline mosquito biting, a potential driver of malaria transmission in Busia County, western Kenya – Link 
  • Strategy for optimizing national routine health information systems: strengthening routine health information systems to deliver primary health care and universal health coverage – Link
  • Contribution of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes to malaria transmission during the dry season in Djoumouna and Ntoula villages in the Republic of the Congo – Link
  • 25th Meeting of the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG) – Link
  • Acute malaria suppresses the B lymphocytic niche in the bone marrow through the alteration of CXCL12-abundant reticular cells – Link
  • First DNA study of Ancient Arabians reveals malaria adaptation – Link | Link to Paper

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