27 June 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

  • CRISPR-based genetic technique eradicates malaria mosquitoes with over 99% efficiency – Link | Link to Paper
  • Eliminating malaria vectors with precision-guided sterile males – Link

Data

  • Predicting malaria hyper endemic zones in West Africa using a regional scale dynamical malaria model – Link

Drug and vaccine development

  • Novel funding pledges for advancing polio eradication efforts – Link
  • A new landscape for malaria vaccine development – Link

Immunisation

  • Angola aims to vaccinate over 3.7 million children in the second round of the Polio vaccination campaign – Link

Elimination progress

  • PATH malaria perspectives: MACEPA’s impact on Senegal’s journey towards malaria elimination – Link
  • Mekong malaria elimination: epidemiology summary, volume 24, October–December 2023 – Link
  • Global outreach and networking promotion to accelerate tropical diseases elimination – Link
  • Report of the third, fourth and fifth meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria elimination and certification: 17 February, 26 May and 27-28 November 2023 – Link

Outbreak

  • A polio outbreak response in Tigray with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) vaccine: used as an opportunity to enhance the routine immunization – Link

Other

  • Ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug mass drug administration – Link
  • Kenya and Global Fund launch new grants to sustain progress against AIDS, TB and Malaria – Link
  • Practical application of a relationship-based model to engagement for gene-drive vector control programs – Link
  • Award for drug research on river blindness and elephantiasis – Link
  • Regional director’s speech during meeting of the national programme managers and Regional Technical Advisory Group (RTAG) of Lymphatic Filariasis elimination, Kathmandu, Nepal  – Link
  • For Malaria elimination, India needs to integrate its research and control arms – Link
  • Results of Integrated transmission assessment surveys for Lymphatic Filariasis and Malaria in Haiti, 2017–2022 – Link
  • Integrated serosurveillance for Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, and Schistosomiasis in North Darfur, Sudan – Link
  • Elimination of neglected tropical diseases training underway in Accra – Link
  • Report of the first meeting of the Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination: Saly, Senegal, 1-2 November 2023 – Link
  • Bill Gates Meets with Pakistan prime minister, government leaders, and health workers to discuss polio, health systems, and economic advancement – Link
  • An epidemiological analysis of severe imported malaria infections in Sri Lanka, after malaria elimination – Link 
  • Adverse events following immunization with novel oral Polio vaccine type 2, and the experience and challenges of reporting in Sierra Leone – Link
  • The fight against malaria requires deeper knowledge of the parasite’s life cycle – Link
  • NTD perspectives with Abdel Direny – Link
  • Keeping gender in mind to stop wild polio in southern Africa – Link

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