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

30 August 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

• Acceptability and associated factors of indoor residual spraying for malaria control by households in Luangwa district of Zambia: A multilevel analysis – Link
• Can we outsmart the world’s deadliest animal? – Link

Data

• In a first step, scientists are developing an AI tool that will help doctors distinguish between infectious diseases – Link to Paper
• Spatial analysis to evaluate risk of malaria in Northern Sumatera, Indonesia – Link

Drug and vaccine development

• A genetically engineered Plasmodium falciparum parasite vaccine provides protection from controlled human malaria infection – Link
• Millions more children to benefit from world’s first malaria vaccine: UNICEF – Link

Surveillance

• Diary of a polio surveillance reviewer: eight days in Afghanistan’s west – Link

Elimination progress

• WHO Director-General congratulates Togo on becoming first country to eliminate four neglected tropical diseases – Link

Outbreak

• Malaria outbreak facilitated by engagement in activities near swamps following increased rainfall and limited preventive measures: Oyam District, Uganda – Link
• Spate of polio outbreaks worldwide puts scientists on alert – Link

Climate change

• Relationships between transmission of malaria in Africa and climate factors – Link

Other

• Dr. Reddy’s inks deal with DNDi to develop drugs for ‘neglected tropical diseases’ – Link
• The Togolese Republic, WHO and the Brazzaville Foundation Commit to a Concerted Regional Health Framework for Africa – Link
• First African-manufactured medicine to prevent malaria in pregnant women and infants quality-approved by WHO – Link
• Engineered DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies targeting Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein confer single dose protection in a murine malaria challenge model – Link
• Malaria parasite evades mosquito immunity by glutaminyl cyclase–mediated posttranslational protein modification – Link
• Asymptomatic malaria and nurturing factors in lowlands of Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study – Link
• Caregivers’ perception of risk for malaria, helminth infection and malaria-helminth co-infection among children living in urban and rural settings of Senegal: A qualitative study – Link
• Identification of factors associated with residual malaria transmission using school-based serological surveys in settings pursuing elimination – Link
• Costs of treating childhood malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia in rural Mozambique and Uganda – Link
• Scientists discover how mosquitoes can ‘sniff out’ humans – Link | Link to Paper
• Technical consultation on the malaria rebound phenomenon – Link
• R&D spending plan for tropical diseases and beyond – Link

 

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