Mosquitoes temper severity of malaria – Phenomena: Not Exactly Rocket Science

Regardless of the interpretation, it’s clear that the study raises more questions than it answers. “There’s no question that it’s a very cool paper, but it feels like it’s a start of something,” says Read. For example, we only know that the parasite activates genes that affect the host’s immune system. But when? In the mosquito? In the liver? In the blood? And Reece wants to know if these genes interact with the mosquito’s own immune system, rather than just the mammal’s.

via Mosquitoes temper severity of malaria – Phenomena: Not Exactly Rocket Science.

Japan-backed fund unveils TB, malaria therapy search – FRANCE 24

The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), set up by the Japanese government, Japanese pharma companies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said they were looking at a potential five-year commitment of more than $100 million to support research and development into neglected diseases.

The project will see researchers looking through the libraries of compounds held by drug companies to see what possible treatments they contain for tuberculosis, malaria, and other illnesses that threaten hundreds of millions of people in the developing world.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the five-yearly Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) which will see Japan welcome heads of government from up to 40 African countries.

via Japan-backed fund unveils TB, malaria therapy search – FRANCE 24.

Malaria push hones techniques fit for a US president – FT.com

Malaria No More will ask individuals to donate $1 each, which is the cost of a cheap malaria diagnostic and paediatric treatment course. Support will be matched by supplies from the makers of two products, Alere for the diagnostics and Novartis for the drugs.

Paul Herrling of Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, says: “We are a major player in malaria …Teaming up allows us to reach even more patients.”

The charity conducted focus groups to test reactions towards a new campaign based on a lower-cost, treatment-based push alongside prevention. “When people understood that malaria was one of the top killers of children, they were very responsive,” says Mr Edlund.

via Malaria push hones techniques fit for a US president – FT.com.

Roz Hobley: Meeting of the Minds to Roll Back Malaria

But sustained political will is also essential to this fight. Something the Right Hon Stephen O’ Brien, British MP knows all too well.

He was announced at the board meeting as a newly appointed Global Advocate for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. He brings a wealth of experience having relentlessly championed the issue of malaria in the UK parliament, including creating a cross-party platform for action in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical diseases. In his new role as global advocate, he will be charged with keeping malaria high on the agenda of politicians around the world.

via Roz Hobley: Meeting of the Minds to Roll Back Malaria.

Africa’s Malaria Battle: Fake Drug Pipeline Undercuts Progress – WSJ.com

Exports of counterfeits from China to Africa are difficult to investigate because they involve large, opaque networks. Mr. Pembele said he acted as intermediary for a group of Luanda businessmen who had joined forces to buy various goods from China. “Clients don’t always say what they buy so I have had bad surprises. You can never trust people,” he said.

In another seizure last year, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical enforcement agency, working with Novartis, confiscated 40 cartons of fake Coartem packets stored at a consumer-electronics shop in Lagos, the country’s economic capital. Shipping documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show the counterfeits came from a Nigerian trader based in Guangzhou.

Counterfeit Coartem has also been found and seized in Guangzhou itself. In February 2012, the Chinese police and the Chinese Food and Drug Administration seized 600 boxes of fake packets of the drug—enough to treat 18,000 patients—in two lorries in Guangzhou, according to a private investigator familiar with the haul.

The fake Coartem found in Luanda, Lagos and Guangzhou appeared to be manufactured specifically for the African market. The counterfeits all carried the logo of Nigeria’s medicines regulator, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control—which is used as a stamp of approval for authentic Coartem throughout the continent.

The fakes in all three countries also used expiration dates that ended 24 months after the alleged date of manufacture instead of the usual 23 months for genuine Coartem.

In Luanda, the health ministry is setting up laboratories to spot-check medicine in an effort to find counterfeits. But many Angolan health and police officials complain their hands are tied.

via Africa’s Malaria Battle: Fake Drug Pipeline Undercuts Progress – WSJ.com.

RTP Ghana donates to mark World Malaria Day.

The day started with a clean exercise right from the Odumase Manste We Sempe division and ended around the community.

This initiative came under Right To Play Health promotion and Disease Prevention program that seek to educate the public about disease prevention , encouraging fitness and  mobilizing communities around  for national health issues.

Dubbed:”Invest in the future, defeat Malaria,good sanitation and Hygienic practices- a key to malaria prevention gathered all community folks under one umbrella to fight against malaria prevention.

Addressing the gathering, country manager for Right To Play Ghana, Dr. Ballo Bello Bitigu said the celebration was to sensitize the the community about malaria and how to prevent it.

via RTP Ghana donates to mark World Malaria Day..