New highland distribution records of multiple Anopheles species in the Ecuadorian Andes HPA reports 22 per cent increase in malaria cases returning from the Indian sub-continent 25 April 2012 New figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on World Malaria Day show that despite a five per cent decrease in malaria infections reported in 2011 (1,677) compared to 2010 (1,761), cases among travellers returning from the Indian-subcontinent increased by 22 per cent, from 274 cases in 2010 to 334 cases in 2011. The increase in cases from the Indian-subcontinent in 2011 is largely due to a doubling of cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria acquired in Pakistan. The most common type of malaria reported in the UK is the potentially fatal falciparum malaria, which is usually acquired in West Africa. This type of malaria continues to account for the majority of cases (1,149) reported in the UK, but in 2011, a quarter of cases (416) were caused by vivax malaria, which is more commonly acquired in India and Pakistan. In 2011, eight deaths from malaria were reported, six from falciparum malaria acquired in Africa and two from vivax malaria acquired in India. Notes for editors:
Detecting malaria early to save lives: New optical technique promises rapid and accurate diagnosis Public release date: 18-Apr-2012 [ Print | E-mail Share ] [ Close Window ] Contact: Angela Starkastark@osa.org 202-416-1443Optical Society of America WASHINGTON, April 18—Correctly and quickly diagnosing malaria is essential for effective and life-saving treatment. The new system, developed by an international team of researchers, uses "speckle imaging," an optical sensing technique that measures the differences in how laser light bounces off the membranes of healthy and infected red blood cells. "A new diagnostic tool is urgently needed," notes Dan Cojoc, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a researcher at the Materials Technology Institute, National Research Council in Trieste, Italy. According to the researchers, this timely diagnosis maximizes the likelihood of successful, life-saving treatment. Malaria is most common in warm, wet climates where mosquitos thrive. A Faster Path to Diagnosis The specific technique the researchers used is called Secondary Speckle Sensing Microscopy.
Malaria surge feared J. Gathany/CDC Mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite are becoming increasingly resistant to insecticides. The war to bring malaria to heel has made slow but steady progress during the past decade, with the overall mortality rate dropping by more than 25% since 2000. “We don’t want to wait for failures to happen,” says David Brandling-Bennett, the senior adviser for infectious diseases at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington, who advised on the document. Such failures could reverse the recent drop in malaria mortality credited to insecticide spraying in the home and coating of bed nets, which save about 220,000 children’s lives each year, according to the WHO. The WHO report says that insecticide-resistant mosquitoes already inhabit 64 malaria-ridden countries (see map). Among other things, the WHO recommends rotating the classes of pesticides used to spray houses, and developing safe and effective non-pyrethroid insecticides that can be used to treat bed nets.
Risk factors for mortality from imported falciparum malaria in the UK over 20 years: observational study - NeLM This observational study based on 20 years of UK national data evaluated which travellers with malaria are at greatest risk of dying, highlighting factors which can be used to target health messages to travellers. Data from the National register of malaria cases were available on 25,054 patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, of whom 184 died, between 1987 and 2006. The main outcome measure was comparison between those with falciparum malaria who died and non-fatal cases, including age, reason for travel, country of birth, time of year diagnosed, malaria prophylaxis used. The following findings were reported: • Mortality increased steadily with age, with a case fatality of 25/548 (4.6%) in people aged >65 years, adjusted odds ratio 10.68 (95% CI, 6.4 to 17.8), P<0.001 compared with 18 to 35 year olds. • There were no deaths in the ≤5 year age group. • There was an inverse correlation in mortality between region of presentation and number of cases seen in the region (p<0.001).
Progress Made In Possible Vaccine Against Malaria May 17, 2012 Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, affects more than 225 around the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Those who contract malaria report symptoms like fever and headaches, which can sometimes lead to severe coma and death. The research was done by two groups at UCSD. Researchers believe that one of the difficulties in creating a vaccine is that there´s currently no system that can create the complex, three-dimensional proteins that mimic the ones made by the parasite. “Malaria is caused by a parasite that makes complex proteins, but for whatever reason this parasite doesn´t put sugars on those proteins,” noted Dr. James Gregory, a postdoctoral researcher in Mayfield´s laboratory, was inspired by a past UCSD study by Mayfield that showed how Chlamydomonas, an algae, could produce complex human therapeutic proteins like growth hormones and monoclonal antibodies. Gregory worked with Dr. Source: Connie K.
Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership – Country Facts French version The main objective of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership is the scaling up of interventions at country level to ensure wide spread coverage, particularly to population groups most vulnerable. There is a need to strengthen support for coordination amongst country health partners. The identification of support needs are to be led and designed locally, with support from other levels as appropriate for the country context and capacity and the stage of policy development and implementation. The malaria program performance review (MPR) is a periodic joint program management process for reviewing progress and performance of country programs within the national health and development agenda. RBM Partnership Secretariat helps countries to develop feasible plans for scaling up malaria interventions and establish the three ones at the country level.
Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership - the global framework for coordinated action against malaria New discoveries about severe malaria Public release date: 21-May-2012 [ Print | E-mail Share ] [ Close Window ] Contact: Jennifer Mortensenjennifer.mortensen@seattlebiomed.org 206-256-7220Seattle Biomedical Research Institute SEATTLE, May 21, 2012 — Researchers from Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (Seattle BioMed), the University of Copenhagen and the University of Edinburgh have uncovered new knowledge related to host-parasite interaction in severe malaria, concerning how malaria parasites are able to bind to cells in the brain and cause cerebral malaria – the most lethal form of the disease. Three related papers will be published in the May 21 online edition of PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), a premier scientific journal, highlighting this research. "Identifying the molecules that allow malaria parasites to 'stick' to the brain takes us one step closer to new treatments," said Joseph Smith, Ph.D., leader of the Seattle team. For more information, contact: [ Print | E-mail AAAS and EurekAlert!
Roll Back Malaria Partnership: 2012 Roadmaps [French version] 2010 was a land mark year for malaria endemic countries, with several of them achieving universal coverage with LLINs in particular for their target population. Significant progress was also seen with the other interventions (ACTs, RDT, IRS and IPT). The 2011 country roadmaps have been developed to maintain those gains, and for the countries that did not achieve universal coverage to catch up. In 2012, 94% endemic countries in Africa (44 out of 47) implemented malaria control roadmaps. Countries are now in the process of creating their 2013 roadmaps. 2012 Country Roadmaps: [as of January 2013]
Vivax malaria more deadly than thought, say scientists A common form of malaria that is endemic across swathes of Asia, and Central and South America may be far deadlier than thought, according to new research. Plasmodium vivax has long been associated with a high economic burden because of loss of working hours and need for treatment — but rarely with death. Now a two-year study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) last week (4–8 December), has found that P. vivax was responsible for about a third of 66 malaria-related deaths at Karitas Hospital in eastern Indonesia. Kevin Baird, lead author of the study and director of the Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit in Indonesia, told SciDev.Net that this is further proof that P. falciparum, the form of malaria common in Africa,is not the only one with high death rates. The view that most malaria deaths are caused by P. falciparum is "pure fantasy", he said. The study is in press at the American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.