13 October 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

  • Trends in retail sales of insecticide-treated nets and untreated nets in Tanzania: cross-section surveys – Link
  • Effectiveness of piperonyl butoxide and pyrethroid-treated long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) versus pyrethroid-only LLINs with and without indoor residual spray against malaria infection: third year results of a cluster, randomised controlled, two-by-two factorial design trial in Tanzania – Link

Diagnostic testing and treatment

  • WHO introduces new pilot scheme for Expert Review Panel for Diagnostic Products for neglected tropical diseases – Link
  • NIH researchers develop PCR assay for easier diagnosis of river blindness – Link

Drug resistance

  • Resistant mosquito strains intensify malaria threat in southern Africa – Link
  • The incidence of artemisinin-resistant HRP2-negative malaria is increasing in Eritrea – Link | Link to Paper

Immunisation

  • UNICEF signs deal to deliver new malaria vaccine in breakthrough for child survival – Link
  • New funding to ensure 370 million children receive polio vaccinations and to boost health innovation in low-income countries – Link
  • WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in updated advice on immunization – Link
  • We will not rest until all children are safe from polio: health minister – Link
  • Pakistan’s polio vaccine drive is part of a broader fight in the developing world – Link

Surveillance

  • Development and evaluation of PlasmoPod: A cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test for rapid malaria diagnosis and surveillance – Link 

Elimination progress

  • Half a million children die of malaria every year. Finally we can change that – Link
  • ‘We could eradicate malaria by 2040’ says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO – Link

Outbreak

  • Locally acquired malaria cases in the USA – Link

Climate and Health

  • Catalysing multi-stakeholder collaboration to tackle climate-related health emergencies in Africa – Link
  • How climate change impacts health—and what we need to do about it – Link
  • We need a public health campaign on climate change – Link

Other

  • New funding, to protect 370 million children from polio every year, puts world on verge of eradicating polio once and for all – Link
  • A weak link in Africa’s defenses against malaria – Link | Link to Paper
  • Mental health: The invisible effects of neglected tropical diseases – Link
  • EU leads more than 1 billion-euro commitment to eradicate polio – Link
  • The prevalence of malaria infections varies among migrant populations – Link | Link to Paper
  • Report of the WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme partners’ meeting: Geneva, Switzerland,12–13 June 2023 – Link
  • A human monoclonal antibody binds within the poliovirus receptor-binding site to neutralize all three serotypes – Link
  • Skin-related neglected tropical diseases: WHO launches new version of the WHO Skin NTDs mobile application – Link
  • Arkansas reports locally acquired malaria case – Link
  • Exploring activities and behaviours potentially increases school-age children’s vulnerability to malaria infections in south-eastern Tanzania – Link

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