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

14 June 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

• BOHEMIA a cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of an endectocide-based one health approach to malaria in Mozambique: baseline demographics and key malaria indicators – Link

Data

• Population pharmacokinetic model of ivermectin in mass drug administration against lymphatic filariasis – Link
• Predicting the risk of malaria re-introduction in countries certified malaria-free: a systematic review – Link

Drug and vaccine development

• Two new vaccines join the fight to eradicate Polio – Link | Link to Paper

Drug resistance

• Assessment of genetic polymorphisms associated with malaria antifolate resistance among the population of Libreville, Gabon – Link
• Two transporters enable chloroquine resistance in malaria – Link
• Insecticide resistance of Anopheles sinensis after elimination of malaria in Henan Province, China – Link

Immunisation

• We finally have malaria vaccines. The next hurdle: Distributing them. – Link
• Burundi launches first Polio vaccination campaign in I0 years – Link
• UNICEF and WHO Representatives visit Henderson clinic to ensure quality of Polio vaccination campaign in Zimbabwe – Link
• Sub-national immunization campaign launched to reach 23 million children – Link

Surveillance

• Surveillance to track progress toward Poliomyelitis eradication — Worldwide, 2021–2022 – Link
• Genomic-informed pathogen surveillance in Africa: opportunities and challenges – Link

Outbreak

• Assessment of polio outbreak response in Ukraine brings country major step closer to official closure of the outbreak – Link

Climate and Health

• Focus on health for global adaptation to climate change – Link
• Launch of consultative process towards REACH 2035 Agenda: Research for Action on Climate Change and Health – Link
• NIH funds first climate and health research coordinating center – Link

Other

• What are the pathways between poverty and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review of mediation studies – Link 
• Stronger defense: symptomatic malaria provides durable protection against reinfection – Link | Link to Paper
• Researchers zero in on a potential new target for malaria: Biological clocks – Link | Link to Paper
• Asymptomatic immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived poliovirus infections in two UK children – Link
• Community engagement among forest goers in a malaria prophylaxis trial: implementation challenges and implications – Link
• Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme Partners’ Meeting, 12–13 June 2023 – Link 
• New platform to study how pathogens carrying mosquitoes impact and infect human cells and tissues – Link | Link to Paper
• Opportunities and challenges of leveraging COVID-19 vaccine innovation and technologies for developing sustainable vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Africa – Link
• Natural killer cells and antibodies versus malaria – Link
• Prevalence of and risk factors for microscopic and submicroscopic malaria infections in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Link
• Ghana Health Service launches mass drug administration – Link

 

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