28 September 2022 – 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

  • WHO launches new initiative to stop the spread of invasive malaria vector in Africa – Link
  • Effect of long-lasting insecticidal nets with and without piperonyl butoxide on malaria indicators in Uganda (LLINEUP): final results of a cluster-randomised trial embedded in a national distribution campaign – Link
  • Mosquitoes that can’t spread malaria engineered by scientists – Link | Link to Paper
  • Efficacy of bednets with dual insecticide-treated netting (Interceptor® G2) on side and roof panels against Anopheles arabiensis in north-eastern Tanzania – Link

Data

  • Combining health datasets is helping polio vaccination efforts in Pakistan – Link
  • A game-theoretic model of lymphatic filariasis prevention – Link

Drug and vaccine development

  • A new weapon against polio – Link
  • Structure of the malaria vaccine candidate Pfs48/45 and its recognition by transmission blocking antibodies – Link

Immunisation

  • Ghana revives its polio immunisation drive – Link
  • Polio vaccination rates in some areas hover dangerously close to the threshold required for herd immunity – Link

Surveillance

  • Afghanistan completes largest ever review of polio surveillance system – Link
  • WHO South-East Asia Region polio-free, accelerated efforts needed in view of increased risks: experts – Link
  • GSK and Microsoft, in collaboration with the Centre for Health and Disease Studies, launch disease surveillance project in Nepal – Link

Elimination progress

  • Neglected tropical disease elimination is a relay race – let’s not drop the baton – Link
  • The Last Mile: How We’ll Stop All Poliovirus in Africa – Link
  • Covid-19 sets back progress on neglected diseases in India – Link
  • Neglected tropical diseases: progress towards recovery from COVID-19 – 2022 update – Link

Outbreak

  • What it took to close a polio outbreak in Sudan – Link
  • Thoughts on a Return of Polio – Link

Climate change

  • Malaria and diseases spreading fast in flood-hit Pakistan – Link
  • Malaria spike linked to amphibian die-off – Link | Link to Paper
  • Why Climate Action Is Global Health Action – Link

Other

  • DOH Issues Updated Polio Guidance – Link
  • DGCI allows Serum Institute to export malaria vaccine to UK – Link
  • Influence of landscape heterogeneity on entomological and parasitological indices of malaria in Kisumu, Western Kenya – Link
  • Global cross-border malaria control collaborative initiatives: a scoping review – Link
  • Asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections in an area before and during integrated vector control in Homa Bay, western Kenya – Link
  • Poliomyelitis in the Region of the Americas – Link
  • UNAIDS applauds donors for pledging the largest amount ever to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Link
  • Global Fund seeks $18 billion to end HIV, TB and malaria – Link
  • WHO launches comprehensive new modules on the Road map and Sustainability Framework to end NTDs – Link
  • James Sunderland: The global fight against malaria must continue – Link
  • Molecular screening reveals non-uniform malaria transmission in western Kenya and absence of Rickettsia Africa and selected arboviruses in hospital patients – Link
  • CDC to test community sewage for Polio virus – Link
  • Merck & UNICEF USA’s partnership: fighting River Blindness and maternal mortality  – Link
  • China faces threat of imported malaria cases – Link

 

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