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Saving the failing WHO fight against malaria in Africa

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This contribution was posted as a comment by Dr. Bill Jobin, Director of Blue Nile Associates in response to the meeting report of the WHO Malaria Policy Advisory Committee that was held in September 2012.

It is ironic that a WHO policy meeting in September will ignore the terrible truth outlined by the WHO Director General Margaret Chan in December - that the malaria program is going to crash..... With due respect to Rob Newman and Margaret Chan in Geneva, I would like to suggest 6 steps to save their Global Malaria Program. My suggestions are simple applications of rational approaches to a problem, the same things we would do with any other problem in life. It does not take a Rocket Scientist to figure this out. Simply put, I suggest that they Narrow their Focus, Expand their Base, add 2 more Components to their Strategy, establish a valid Monitoring and Evaluation system, and set Realistic Goals against which they can Measure their Progress ......

Artemisia absinthium: a forgotten antimalarial

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artemisia absinthium, artemisia afra

Update: LG Electronics guilty of 'counterfeit vector control'?

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LG Electronics, malaria, air conditioner, ultrasonic repellent

The BBC published an article on the myths of mosquito repellers based on ultrasounds following articles on MalariaWorld. Amazingly, in spite of the massive evidence that is there to show that ultrasounds do nothing to repel mosquitoes, the electronics giant LG has started to market an air conditioner in Nigeria that incorporates ultrasound. The company published a news release titled 'LG fights malaria in Nigeria with hi-tech air conditioner'...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…is it still?

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World Malaria Report, 2012, who

Every year in December, the global malaria community eagerly awaits the World Malaria Report published by the World Health Organization. Every year countries around the world report their status of the disease, and year after year over the last decade the World Malaria Report was like a Christmas gift. Our collective efforts were paying off, both mortality and morbidity was on the decline, and scaling up of the tools yielded what we expected: A massive reduction in malaria. But this year’s end is different…

Should Artemisia annua (wormwood) tea be used as a prophylactic in endemic countries?

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artemisia annua, tea, prophylaxis

This expert blog was contributed by Dr. Merlin Willcox, Honorary Secretary of the Research Initiative on Traditional Antimalarial Methods (RITAM), in response to the outcome of a poll on MalariaWorld and recent contributions regarding the use of Artemisia tea as a remedy for malaria.

As a scientist and medical doctor, I am interested in herbal medicines for malaria. No one can deny that they have been the source of the two most important and effective families of antimalarial drugs. Furthermore many people still rely on various herbal remedies for treating uncomplicated malaria. Much of my own research has aimed to investigate these objectively and to find the most effective remedies.

Artemisia annua is a very interesting plant and is the source of the most powerful antimalarial drug ever discovered, artemisinin. There are a few clinical trials which even show that it can be used as an “emergency, first-aid” treatment for malaria in semi-immune adults. However there are no published clinical trials which prove effect on the prevention of malaria, and no published clinical trials which demonstrate effectiveness in young children...

MIM 2013 Conference: important dates

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MIM2013

"Moving Towards Malaria Elimination: Investing in Research and Control"

The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Secretariat (MIMSec) at the Biotechnology Centre of the University of Yaounde I, and the South African Medical Research Council (SA MRC) announces the 6th Pan African Malaria Conference of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM). The 6th MIM Conference, now open for applications and to members of the media, will be held from 6-11 October 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

M&E of Malaria Programs E-learning Course Launched

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malaria, e-course, malariaprograms, m&e, monitoring, evaluation

MEASURE Evaluation, a USAID-funded project, is excited to announce the launch of the M&E of Malaria Programs e-course.

M&E of Malaria Programs provides an overview of fundamental concepts of monitoring and evaluation as they specifically relate to malaria prevention and control programs. It provides an overview of:

Rob MacLennan: Jury voted with their 'gut'

Yesterday, BBC's William Kremer published an excellent article about the myths surrounding ultrasounds as repellents against mosquitoes. We both talked many times about these myths and he researched the matter thoroughly. Nothing but praise for this piece of great journalism. But for us here at MalariaWorld the story isn't over yet, because the Cannes Lions Festival is simply waiting for the media storm to blow over and then move on with business as usual...

How can engineers help us in the fight against malaria?

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irrigation engineering; dam engineers; drainage; resettlement designs

And how can we help engineers fight malaria in new African water projects?.....

A "vaccine" against malaria from Africa: ARTAVOL®.

The guest blog below was provided by Dr. Pierre Lutgen.

Since 5 years a group of scientists at the Ministry of Health of Uganda is working on plant extracts which might have a prophylactic effect against malaria. Since 12 months a product is available in the pharmacies of Uganda. The product has been released after clinical and community trials over 3 years which have demonstrated that if taken regularly during one year it renders a person immune against malaria. It also reduced the asymptomatic malaria cases in an adult population by 60%.

Cinderella science

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vector research, vaccine

The guest blog below was contributed by Prof. Matt Thomas, of Penn State University. Read more about Professor Thomas here.

Everybody would like to see the burden of malaria reduced and while there might be some disciplinary biases, most would agree that long-term sustainable management of malaria requires integrated strategies built on solid foundations of local knowledge and capacity.

Of the broad approaches available (and by available I include potential tools somewhere along the development pipeline), vector control is clearly pivotal. This is not to diminish the importance of other technologies, such as drugs or diagnostics, but much of the recent decline in malaria can be attributed to wide-scale implementation of vector control tools such as long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) and indoor residual insecticide sprays (IRS). Furthermore, in nearly every historical case where malaria has been substantially reduced or locally eliminated, vector control has been key.

Genetic control via population replacement: where do transgenics stand?

It is said that predictions are very difficult – especially when they concern the future. No doubt Scott O’neil and his Eliminate Dengue team never would have expected to be where they are now 10 years ago. In contrast, those who dreamt of releasing malaria-refractory transgenic mosquitoes two decades ago in the Tucson desert would have been surprised too.

'The Epidemiology and Control of malaria in Palestine' by I Kligler1930

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Palestine, Kligler

It may be of interest to readers of MalariaWorld that the long-forgotten, overlooked, but still relevant book by Dr I Kligler, published in 1930, entitled 'The Epidemiology and Control of malaria in Palestine' is now available without charge to be read in its entirety at www.kligler1930.com . Kligler was the architect in Palestine of probably the first successful national malaria-eradication campaign in the world, the campaign was begun in 1922 and it was conducted without vaccines and without reliance on mosquito bednets. The website includes the review in 1930 by Science Magazine.

Free Book for MalariaWorld Members!

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artemisinin, artemisia annua, ACT, Africa

This week I was contacted by Dr. Dana Dalrymple with a very unusual offer. He wishes to provide all MalariaWorld subscribers free access to his book 'Artemisia annua, Artemisinin, ACTs & Malaria Control in Africa' published just seven months ago. This is truly remarkable and we highly appreciate this gesture!

In his email he said: "This will get it to the heart of the international malaria community and doubtless reach many who otherwise may not have heard of, or had access to, it." That is the spirit of truly open and global collaboration we aim to achieve with MalariaWorld. So a big 'Thank you' to Dr. Dalrymple! If you download it, why not send him a private message through the platform (available to subcribers) to let him know you appreciate his action...

Pan African MIM conference 2013

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MIM2013

In October 2013 the next Pan African MIM conference on malaria will be organised in Durban, South Africa. It follows after the MIM 2009 meeting that was held in Nairobi. Although this seems far ahead of us, at MalariaWorld we are planning to inform you in the best possible way about this upcoming event.

We will also liaise with the MIM secretariat to see how we can best inform you about the conference and provide you with all necessary information on time.

Please visit our MIM2013 forum regularly, or read our Special MIM2013 section here to reads the latest updates...

Artemisia prophylaxis

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cguif

Artemisia annua tea: prophylaxis against malaria

Mosquito nets used for keeping trapped falcons fresh

It is known that mosquito nets are used to trap fish.

Recently however, shocking news from India sowed that Amur Falcons are trapped by the thousands for human consumption.

http://www.conservationindia.org/campaigns/amur-massacre

120 000 to 140 000 falcons are estimated to be trapped and killed per season.

To keep the falcons fresh, they are kept under mosquito netting, or what the reporters called mosquito netting. Pictures on the website shows what looks like netting used as cages. It is not reported how many nets are used for this purpose.

mosquito tweets

There have been quite a number of mosquito tweets on my timeline lately. I ve seen "I had this good dream" this silly mosquito woke me up. "I smeared a mosquito on the wall, feels quite nice actually" If you think you are too small to make an impact try sleeping in the same room with a mosquito.

At this rate mosquitobite hashtag will soon trend. Or maybe its because its raining in Kenya and breeding sites are quite many.

Mercedes-Benz should win Cannes creativity award!

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Mercedes-Benz, Cannes Festival Creativity, Go Outside, ultrasonic repellent, Bob Moore, Roberto Fernandez

In July I was approached by a Dutch radio station that brought a most interesting YouTube video to my attention. It features an award winning idea by Go Outside magazine (based in Brazil), this being the 'Repellent radio'. It was created by the Sao Paulo-based advertising agency Talent, and it won the Radio Grand Prix award 2012 at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Take a look...

Open questions concerning artemisinin and its derivatives

The article below was written by Dr. Pierre Lutgen (see www.maladiestropicales.org and www.iwerliewen.org; email: lutgenp@gms.lu).

Abstract

We selected three papers among many others raising concerns about the failure of ACTs.

In the Chinese paper from Liu AR et al (Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2000;18(2):76-8) it was documented that essential oil from a plant (also called patchouli oil) had extraordinary y synergistic properties with artesunate. This essential oil even reverses the resistance against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Why were ACTs based on chemical and not on natural molecules?

The inhibition of Plasmodium with extracts from the Artemisia ludoviciana plant from Mexico is up to 98,6%. The plant does not contain artemisinin (F Malagon et al. Parasitologia. 1997 ;39(1):3-7).

The paper from Vietnam (V Ha et al. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1997 Jul-Aug;91(4):465-7) claims that there is no significant difference between artemisinin, artemether, artesunate treatment! Why than produce ACT pills with artemisinin derivatives?

Malaria Elimination Country Case Study 4: Preventing reintroduction in Mauritius

Many countries are nearing — or have already achieved — malaria elimination, as documented by a new series of case studies by The Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Malaria Programme. Having worked in collaboration with ministries of health in affected countries, the two organizations highlight new evidence about what works — and what does not — for reaching and sustaining zero malaria transmission.

Malaria Elimination Country Case Study 3: Progress towards elimination in Sri Lanka

Malaria Elimination Country Case Study 2: Moving towards sustainable elimination in Cape Verde

Malaria Elimination Country Case Study 1: Achieving elimination in Turkmenistan

Global Health Group, World Health Organization Launch Country Case Studies on Malaria Elimination

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malaria elimination

Enthusiasm alone was insufficient to defeat malaria in Palestine 100 years ago. It required organisation and firm direction.

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malaria elimination

On 18^th September 2009, Bart Knols submitted an article ‘Eradication, elimination, and control: Knowing the past of malaria.’ He wrote that malaria elimination requires a change of approach and a different way of thinking. Community ‘soft’ approaches will give you control, not elimination, and he pointed at historical successes in eliminating malaria which were based on rigorous military-style organised campaigns.

Primers for Culex species

I am looking for primers that can distinguish between Culex pipiens and C. quinquefaciatus samples.

Potential health risk caused by LLIN packing

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who, pyrethroids, LLIN, contamination

I am Satoko, Japanese NGO staff.
As I posted in “Sustainable Malaria Control”, I am definitely
against current drug dependent strategy, in particular LLINs and IRS.
WHO advocates only the efficacy of LLIN, that is, how they could
achieve remarkable reduction in malaria incidence, or pyrethroid is the
least harmful insecticide for human, though we are very skeptical about it.

An eagle watch - Tropical and Non communicable diseases

Research in sub-Sahara should be re-focus on NCDs along side with tropical infectious diseases like malaria. Collaborations are needed in these areas to plan for the future. Lets researchers join forces to create a team to health task force for this region.

An eagle watch - Tropical and Non communicable diseases

research in sub-Sahara should be re-focused on NCDs along side tropical infectious disease like malaria. Collaborations are needed in these areas so we can plan for the future lets join forces to create a team to health task force for this region.

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