William Brieger Senior Malaria Specialist, JHPIEGO -
http://www.jhpiego.org/en/content/malaria-prevention-and-treatment
Professor, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
http://www.jhpiego.org/en/content/malaria-prevention-and-treatment
Professor, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
· P.f. SENSITIVITY TO ARTEMISININ AND OTHER ANTI-MALARIALS IN THAILAND
Longitudinal in vitro surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to common anti-malarials in Thailand between 1994 and 2010
Daniel Parker, Rujira Lerdprom, Wanna Srisatjarak, Guiyun Yan, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, James Wood, Jeeraphat Sirichaisinthop and Liwang Cui
Malaria Journal 2012, 11:290 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-290
Published: 21 August 2012
Abstract (provisional); full text is at http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-11-290.pdf
Background
Drug and multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria has existed in Thailand for several decades. Furthermore, Thailand serves as a sentinel for drug-resistant malaria within the Greater Mekong sub-region. However, the drug resistance situation is highly dynamic, changing quickly over time. Here parasite in vitro drug sensitivity is reported for artemisinin derivatives, mefloquine, chloroquine and quinine, across Thailand.
Methods
Blood was drawn from patients infected with P. falciparum in seven sentinel provinces along Thai international borders with Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Malaysia. In vitro parasite sensitivity was tested using the World Health Organization's microtest (mark III) (between 1994 and 2002) and the histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (in 2010). Following World Health Organization protocol, at least 30 isolates were collected for each province and year represented in this study. Where possible, t-tests were used to test for significant differences.
Results
There appears to be little variation across study sites with regard to parasite sensitivity to chloroquine. Quinine resistance appears to have been rising prior to 1997, but has subsequently decreased. Mefloquine sensitivity appears high across the provinces, especially along the north-western border with Myanmar and the eastern border with Cambodia. Finally, the data suggest that parasite sensitivity to artemisinin and its derivatives is significantly higher in provinces along the north-western border with Myanmar.
Conclusions
Parasite sensitivity to anti-malarials in Thailand is highly variable over time and largely mirrors official drug use policy. The findings with regard to reduced sensitivity to artemisinin derivatives are supported by recent reports of reduced parasite clearance associated with artemisinin. This trend is alarming since artemisinin is considered the last defence against malaria. Continued surveillance in Thailand, along with increased collaboration and surveillance across the entire Greater Mekong sub-region, is clearly warranted.
· MALARIA IN SOUTH AFRICA
Malaria control in South Africa 2000-2010: beyond MDG6
Devanand Moonasar, Tej Nutulaganti, Philip S Kruger, Aaron Mabuza, Eric S Raswiswi, Frew G Benson and Rajendra Maharaj
Malaria Journal 2012, 11:294 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-294
Published: 22 August 2012
Abstract (provisional); full text is at http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-11-294.pdf
Background
Malaria is one of the key targets within Goal 6 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whereby the disease needs to be halted and reversed by the year 2015. Several other international targets have been set, however the MDGs are universally accepted, hence it is the focus of this manuscript.
Methods
An assessment was undertaken to determine the progress South Africa has made against the malaria target of MDG Goal 6. Data were analyzed for the period 2000 until 2010 and verified after municipal boundary changes in some of South Africa's districts and subsequent to verifying actual residence of malaria positive cases.
Results
South Africa has made significant progress in controlling malaria transmission over the past decade; malaria cases declined by 89.41 % (63663 in 2000 vs 6741 in 2010) and deaths decreased by 85.4 % (453 vs 66) in the year 2000 compared to the year 2010. Coupled with this, malaria cases among children under five years of age have also declined by 93 % (6791 in 2000 vs 451 in 2010). This has resulted in South Africa achieving and exceeding the malaria target of the MDGs. A series of interventions have attributed to this decrease, these include: drug policy change from monotherapy to artemisinin combination therapy, insecticide change from pyrethroids back to DDT; cross border collaboration (South Africa with Mozambique and Swaziland through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative- LSDI) and financial investment in malaria control. The KwaZulu-Natal Province has seen the largest reduction in malaria cases and deaths (99.1 % cases- 41786 vs 380; and 98.5 % deaths 340 vs 5), when comparing the year 2000 with 2010. The Limpopo Province recorded the lowest reduction in malaria cases compared to the other malaria endemic provinces (56.1 % reduction- 9487 vs 4174; when comparing 2000 to 2010).
Conclusions
South Africa is well positioned to move beyond the malaria target of the MDGs and progress towards elimination. However, in addition to its existing interventions, the country will need to sustain its financing for malaria control and support programmed reorientation towards elimination and scale up active surveillance coupled with treatment at the community level. Moreover cross-border malaria collaboration needs to be sustained and scaled up to prevent the re-introduction of malaria into the country.
· BEDNETS IN TANZANIA
Evaluation of a national universal coverage campaign of long-lasting insecticidal nets in a rural district in north-west Tanzania
Philippa A West, Natacha Protopopoff, Mark W Rowland, Matthew J Kirby, Richard M Oxborough, Franklin W Mosha, Robert Malima and Immo Kleinschmidt
Malaria Journal 2012, 11:273 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-273
Published: 10 August 2012
Background
Insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are one of the most effective measures for preventing malaria. Mass distribution campaigns are being used to rapidly increase net coverage in at-risk populations. This study had two purposes: to evaluate the impact of a universal coverage campaign (UCC) of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) on LLIN ownership and usage, and to identify factors that may be associated with inadequate coverage.
Methods
In 2011 two cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 50 clusters in Muleba district, north-west Tanzania. Prior to the UCC 3,246 households were surveyed and 2,499 afterwards. Data on bed net ownership and usage, demographics of household members and household characteristics including factors related to socio-economic status were gathered, using an adapted version of the standard Malaria Indicator Survey. Specific questions relating to the UCC process were asked.
Results
The proportion of households with at least one ITN increased from 62.6% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 60.9-64.2) before the UCC to 90.8% (95% CI = 89.0-92.3) afterwards. ITN usage in all residents rose from 40.8% to 55.7%. After the UCC 58.4% (95% CI = 54.7-62.1) of households had sufficient ITNs to cover all their sleeping places. Households with children under five years (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.9-2.9) and small households (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.4) were most likely to reach universal coverage. Poverty was not associated with net coverage. Eighty percent of households surveyed received LLINs from the campaign.
Conclusions
The UCC in Muleba district of Tanzania was equitable, greatly improving LLIN ownership and, more moderately, usage. However, the goal of universal coverage in terms of the adequate provision of nets was not achieved. Multiple, continuous delivery systems and education activities are required to maintain and improve bed net ownership and usage.
A quasi-experimental evaluation of an interpersonal communication intervention to increase insecticidetreated net use among children in Zambia
Joseph Keating, Paul Hutchinson, John M Miller, Adam Bennett, David A Larsen, Busiku Hamainza, Cynthia Changufu, Nicholas Shiliya andThomas P Eisele
Malaria Journal 2012, 11:313 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-313
Published: 7 September 2012
Abstract (provisional)
Background
This paper presents results from an evaluation of the effect of a community health worker (CHW) -based, interpersonal communication campaign (IPC) for increasing insecticidetreated mosquito net (ITN) use among children in Luangwa District, Zambia, an area with near universal coverage of ITNs and moderate to low malaria parasite prevalence.
Methods
A quasi-experimental community randomized control trial was conducted from 2008 to 2010. CHWs were the unit of randomization. Cross-sectional data were collected from houses in both 2008 and 2010 using simple random sampling of a complete household enumeration of the district. A difference-in -differences approach was used to analyse the data.
Results
ITN use among children <5 2008="2008" 2010="2010" 54="54" 81="81" and="and" arms="arms" between="between" chi2="96.3," control="control" difference="difference" equal="equal" from="from" greater="greater" households="households" however="however" in="in" increase="increase" increased="increased" itn="itn" no="no" old="old" or="or" overall="overall" p="p" than="than" the="the" there="there" to="to" treatment="treatment" was="was" with="with" years="years">0.05). ITN use also increased among children five to 14 years old from 37 % in 2008 to 68 % in 2010. There was no indication that the CHW-based intervention activities had a significant effect on increasing ITN use in this context, over and above what is already being done to disseminate information on the importance of using an ITN to prevent malaria infection.
Discussion
ITN use increased dramatically in the district between 2008 and 2010. It is likely that IPC activities in general may have contributed to the observed increase in ITN use, as the increased observed in this study was far higher than the increase observed between 2008 and 2010 malaria indicator survey (MIS) estimates. Contamination across control communities, coupled with linear settlement patterns and subsequent behavioural norms related to communication in the area, likely contributed to the observed increase in net use and null effect in this study.
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