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

30 November 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

  • Human behaviour directs household-level exposure to malaria vectors in Bandarban, Bangladesh – Link
  • Coating formulation change leads to inferior performance of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Papua New Guinea – Link
  • Entomological impact of mass administration of ivermectin and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in The Gambia: a cluster-randomized controlled trial – Link
  • Vibrant’s Decision Making Essentials proves to be an instrumental guide for decision-makers in Africa – Link

Diagnostic testing and treatment

  • New tech solution to spot disease-transmitting mosquitoes – Link
  • Characterization of the primary antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum antigens in infants living in a malaria-endemic area – Link

Data

  • Global health researchers use human movement patterns to determine risk of malaria spreading during certain times of day – Link | Link to Paper
  • Strong WHO recommendation for Pyramax as malaria treatment – Link
  • Meta-analysis informed the updated WHO guidelines for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy – Link 
  • The use of routine health facility data for micro-stratification of malaria risk in mainland Tanzania – Link

Drug and vaccine development

  • Racing rising resistance, Novartis marches malaria therapy into phase 3 – Link
  • The RTS,S malaria vaccine: Current impact and foundation for the future – Link
  • Is the first malaria vaccine worth the cost? – Link
  • Structural analysis of Plasmodium falciparum ookinete surface antigen Pfs28 relevant for malaria vaccine design – Link

Drug resistance

  • Malaria outbreak in Laos driven by a selective sweep for Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 R539T mutants: a genetic epidemiology analysis – Link
  • Molecular markers of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine resistance in northwestern Thailand – Link
  • WHO unveils new strategy to tackle antimalarial drug resistance in Africa – Link
  • Insecticide resistance in malaria and arbovirus vectors in Papua New Guinea, 2017–2022 – Link

Immunisation

  • Indonesia aims to vaccine 1.2 million children in Aceh province as four polio cases found – Link
  • Malawi starts landmark malaria vaccination drive – Link
  • Zimbabwe begins polio drive to quell first threat in 30 years – Link

Elimination progress

  • Preparing for certification of malaria elimination, second edition – Link
  • European Region’s 20th year of polio-free status confirmed – but there is no room for complacency – Link

Outbreak

  • DRC and Yemen confirm more polio cases – Link 

Climate and health

  • Climate change and vectorborne diseases – Link

Other

  • Malawi launches Africa’s first children’s malaria vaccine – Link
  • Onchocerciasis in the Ntui Health District of Cameroon: epidemiological, entomological and parasitological findings in relation to elimination prospects – Link
  • WHO Guidelines for malaria – Link
  • WHO Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG) meeting (October 2022) – Link
  • Responding to malaria in urban areas: a new framework from WHO and UN-Habitat – Link
  • Ghana: Stakeholders deliberate on eliminating NTDs in W/A – Link
  • Malaria among under-five children in rural communities of Al-Mahweet governorate, Yemen – Link
  • The Ability to detect malaria infections in pregnant women is affected by factors other than immunity – Link | Link to Paper

 

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