Roundup of articles and publications on the latest innovations in malaria, polio, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis

14 July 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

• ICMR develops eco-friendly technology to kill mosquitoes & blackflies – Link
• India to train 100 entomologists a year, create skilled workforce to fight against diseases like dengue, malaria – Link
• The influence of the environment and indoor residual spraying on malaria risk in a cohort of children in Uganda – Link

Diagnostic testing and treatment

• Landscape analysis of NTD diagnostics and considerations on the development of a strategy for regulatory pathways – Link

Data

• National Institute of Malaria Research-Malaria Dashboard (NIMR-MDB): A digital platform for analysis and visualization of epidemiological data – Link

Drug and vaccine development

• BioNTech to take the malaria vaccine into clinical trials later this year – Link
• How the Gates Foundation plans to beat malaria without the vaccine – Link

Drug resistance

• Effects of agricultural pesticides on insecticide-resistance and ‘fitness’ of malaria vectors in south-eastern Tanzania – Link

Immunisation

• Mozambique: polio vaccination campaign extended – Link
• Top health official declares polio vaccine drive a success – Link
• Uganda receives 12.9 mln polio vaccine doses for 2nd round of vaccination – Link
• EU delivers additional €40 Mn for polio vaccines and child protection in Afghanistan – Link

Surveillance

• Application of an innovative grid-based surveillance strategy to ensure elimination and prevent reintroduction of malaria in high-risk border communities in China – Link
• Innovative digital technologies bridge gaps in the polio response and beyond – Link

Elimination progress

• WHO’s chief guidance for containing polioviruses revised – Link
• Historical overview and geographical distribution of neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy in the Republic of the Congo: A systematic review – Link

Outbreak

• Algeria – Status: affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) – Link
• Is polio re-emerging as a threat in Britain? – Link

Other

• New declaration on neglected tropical diseases endorsed – Link
• Edo Govt Partners Carter Centre against River Blindness, Elephantiasis – Link
• Putting the fight against malaria, NTDs on track – Link
• DOLF Project’s role in effort to eliminate tropical disease recognized – Link | Link to Paper
• What Africa can do to accelerate and sustain progress against malaria – Link
• Expanded geographic distribution and host preference of Anopheles gibbinsi (Anopheles species 6) in northern Zambia – Link
• Accelerating malaria elimination in Cambodia: an intensified approach for targeting at-risk populations – Link
• Pakistan’s failure to eliminate polio reflects acute lack of commitment – Link
• After COVID, African countries vow to take the fight to malaria – Link
• Sickle cell anaemia and severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children Trial (TRACT) – Link

 

Please contact us with comments and feedback.