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

31 October 2021 – 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

• Scientists trick mosquitoes to stop spread of malaria – Link
• Malaria: focus on mosquito genes: Researchers battling malaria and some other insect-borne diseases hope to engineer strains of insects that cannot carry the human pathogens they now transmit – Link
• Insecticide-treated livestock: a potential One Health approach to malaria control in Africa – Link
• Rwanda is blasting killer mosquitoes with drones – Link

 

Diagnostic Testing and Treatment

• Primaquine and the power of adherence in radical cure – Link
• Supervised versus unsupervised primaquine radical cure for the treatment of falciparum and vivax malaria in Papua, Indonesia: a cluster-randomised, controlled, open-label superiority trial – Link

 

Data

• WHO unveils new analytical tools on the ESPEN data portal – Link
• Recommended reporting items for epidemic forecasting and prediction research: The EPIFORGE 2020 guidelines – Link

 

Drug and Vaccine Development

• Freeze-dried malaria vaccine could add bite to global disease fight – Link to article | Link to paper
• Atreca, Gates MRI partner to develop antibody for malaria prevention – Link
• Dirt may be the secret to a more effective malaria treatment, McMaster study – Link to article | Link to paper

 

Immunisation

• U.N. to launch a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan with Taliban permission – Link
• Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 surpasses 100 Million doses administered – Link
• Uganda receives 10 million doses of polio vaccine – Link
• Over 80 million reached as Africa trailblazes novel polio vaccine – Link
• PharmaJet, WHO and BMGF Conduct Somalia Polio Vaccination Campaign – Link
• Osun State targets over one million children for vaccination against Polio – Link

 

Surveillance

• Evaluating the diagnostic test accuracy of molecular xenomonitoring methods for characterising the community burden of Onchocerciasis – Link

 

Elimination Progress

• World Polio Day 2021 highlights progress and ongoing commitment to end polio everywhere – Link
• Determination, innovation and adaptation can keep lymphatic filariasis elimination on track – Link
• As the Americas celebrates 30 years without polio, PAHO calls for increased vigilance – Link
• It’s a marathon, not a sprint: how polio eradication efforts show us that tackling covid-19 also needs a long-term view – Link
• Pursuing the endgame: novel polio vaccine rollout in Africa – Link
• Study shows 2 % decline in malaria prevalence over 5 years – Link
• Endemics endgame: The African region shows us what it will take to end Polio for good – Link

 

Outbreak

• Polio outbreaks confirmed in Asia and Eastern Europe – Link
• Adamawa records 4 new Polio cases – Link

 

Other

• Acceptability and feasibility of the school-engaged social and behavior change communication approach on malaria prevention in Ethiopia: implications for engagement, empowerment, and retention (EER) of education sectors in malaria elimination efforts – Link
• The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future – Link
• Historical Review and Cost-Effectiveness Assessment of the Programs to Eliminate Onchocerciasis and Trachoma in Mexico – Link
• Bill Gates thanks Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for polio commitment – Link
• Mobile cash in polio response: three things to know – Link
• Availability of essential diagnostics in ten low-income and middle-income countries: results from national health facility surveys – Link

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