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

31 October 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

• Target malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plague – Link
• Genetically derived mosquitoes help in slow down the growth of spreading Malaria – Link

Diagnostic testing and treatment

• Report of the third meeting of the WHO Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases: virtual meeting, 3 June 2021 – Link
• Antibody treatment tested as new tool against malaria – Link to Paper
• Historical 8-Aminoquinoline Combinations: not all antimalarial drugs work well together – Link

Data

• Lancaster University to be part of building malaria modeling capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa – Link

Drug and vaccine development

• Vaccines could be a game-changer in the fight against malaria in Africa – Link

Drug resistance

• Polio strain resistant to oral vaccine detected in Israel – Link

Immunisation

• Zimbabwe begins polio vaccination drive as neighboring country records new cases – Link
• A polio vaccination campaign is protecting millions of children in Malawi – Link
• CDC is discussing using oral polio vaccine for first time in 20 years to stop New York outbreak – Link

Surveillance

• No suspected polio case is too hard-to-reach for investigation and follow up in Ethiopia – Link
• Malaria surveillance and case management in remote and indigenous communities of Panama: results from a community-based health worker pilot – Link

Elimination progress

• Tanzania: Zero malaria in Zanzibar by 2027, realistic? – Link
• The endgame: What will it take to eradicate polio? – Link

Outbreak

• Polio cases confirmed in African countries – Link 
• Just one case of polio is a global threat – Link
• Malaria – Pakistan – Link
• Wild polio returns to Africa: How the GPEI is helping stop an outbreak from becoming an inferno – Link

Climate change

• WHO and WMO launch a new knowledge platform for climate and health – Link
• COP27 Climate Change Conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world – Link
• COP27: Climate change threatening global health – report – Link | Link to Paper
• Most diseases worsened by climate change, new research reveals. Here’s what we can do about it – Link | Link to Paper

Other

• Pakistan is working with Rotary to eradicate polio – Link 
• NTDs: High R&D investment need of the hour – Link
• Prevalence, probability, and characteristics of malaria and filariasis co-infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis – Link
• GPEI Director Aidan O’Leary’s message on the outcomes of the 2022 pledging moment – Link 
• How many lives will the UK’s aid budget reduction really cost? – Link
• World Polio Day 2022: History, Significance, Theme and More – Link
• WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific – 24 October 2022 – Link
• A decade of innovation to deepen the understanding of infectious diseases of poverty and foster their control and elimination – Link 
• World Polio Day: Joint statement by Commissioners Stella Kyriakides, Jutta Urpilainen and Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Dr Andrea Ammon – Link
• Temporal trends in the burden of non-communicable diseases in countries with the highest malaria burden, 1990–2019: Evaluating the double burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases in epidemiological transition – Link
• Amazigo, Nigeria’s Public Health Specialist Bags Another International Award – Link
• WHO Director-General’s remarks at the World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond event  – 21 October 2022 – Link
• Clinical characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum infection among symptomatic patients presenting to a major urban military hospital in Cameroon – Link
• A cross-sectional study of Simulium damnosum sensu lato breeding sites and species distribution in Sudan savanna, mixed savanna–forest and rainforest regions in Cameroon – Link
• WHO: Global leaders commit US$ 2.6 billion at World Health Summit to end polio – Link
• Polio eradication is in sight. Don’t stop funding it now – Link
• Gates Foundation pledges $1.2B to end polio as virus stages a comeback – Link 
• Poliovirus spreads across the US – Link

 

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