Research

Designing a sustainable strategy for malaria control?

Clive Shiff et al | 03 Aug 2023 | Malaria Journal

Malaria in the 21st century is showing signs of declining over much of its distribution, including several countries in Africa where previously this was not thought to be feasible. Yet for the most part the strategies to attack the infection are similar to those of the 1950s. Three major Journals have recently drawn attention to the situation, stressing the importance of research, describing the successes and defining semantics related to control. But there is a need to stress the importance of local sustainability, and consider somewhat urgently how individual endemic countries can plan and implement the programmes that are currently financed, for the most part, by donor institutions. On an immediate basis research should be more focused on a data driven approach to control. This will entail new thinking on the role of local infrastructure and in training of local scientists in local universities in epidemiology and field malariology so that expanded control programmes can become operational. Donor agencies should encourage and facilitate development of career opportunities for such personnel so that local expertise is available to contribute appropriately.

Determinants of bed net use in children under five and household bed net ownership on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

Alberto L Garcia-Basteiro et al | 29 Jun 2023 | Malaria Journal

As part of comprehensive malaria control strategies, the Bioko Island Malaria Control Project (BIMCP) distributed 110,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLIN) in late 2007 with the aim of providing one net for each sleeping area.

Relationship between care-givers' misconceptions and non-use of ITNs by under-five Nigerian children

Ekundayo Arogundade et al | 22 Jun 2023 | Malaria Journal

Misconceptions about causes and prevention of malaria by caregivers adversely influence the use ITN by under-five children. Appropriate communication strategies should correct these misconceptions.

Malaria in Kakuma refugee camp, Turkana, Kenya: facilitation of Anopheles arabiensis vector populations by installed water distribution and catchment systems

M Nabie Bayoh et al | 06 Jun 2023 | Malaria Journal

Malaria is a major health concern for displaced persons occupying refugee camps in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there is little information on the incidence of infection and nature of transmission in these settings.

Paracetamol versus placebo in treatment of non-severe malaria in children in Guinea-Bissau: a randomized controlled trial

Poul-Erik Kofoed et al | 04 Jun 2023 | Malaria Journal

The current guidelines for treatment of malaria include paracetamol to children with fever. No convincing evidence for the beneficial effects of this practice exists.

From quinine to artesunate in Africa

Talha Burki | 26 May 2023 | The Lancet Infectious Diseases

"An overwhelming body of evidence supports the superiority of artesunate over quinine for the treatment of severe malaria in adults and children across the world", concludes a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

The initial pharmaceutical development of an artesunate/amodiaquine oral formulation for the treatment of malaria: a public-private partnership

None | 23 May 2023 | Malaria Journal

Artemisinin-based combination therapy is currently recommended worldwide for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Fixed-dose combinations are preferred as they favour compliance.

Trends in malaria research in 11 Asian Pacific countries: an analysis of peer-reviewed publications over two decades

Finn Andersen et al | 18 May 2023 | Malaria Journal

The proportion of malaria-related publications out of the overall biomedical output from the 11 target Asian-Pacific countries is decreasing. The discovery and evaluation of new, safe and effective drugs and vaccines is paramount. In addition the elimination of malaria will require operational research to implement and scale up interventions.

A bug that nips malaria in the bud

None | 13 May 2023 | Mangalorean.Com

Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a bug that nips malaria in the bud by halting the development of the parasite, plasmodium falciparum, that causes it. The enterobacter bacterium is part of the naturally occurring microbial flora of the mosquito's gut and kills the parasite by producing reactive oxygen species (free radical molecules).

The emergence of insecticide resistance in central Mozambique and potential threat on the successful indoor residual spraying malaria control programme

Ana P Abilio et al | 02 May 2023 | Malaria Journal

Both An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus were controlled effectively with the DDT-based IRS programme in Zambezia, reducing disease transmission and burden. However, the discovery of pyrethroid resistance in the province and Mozambique's policy change away from DDT to pyrethroids for IRS threatens the gains made here.