Monday, December 17, 2018

(LML) InfoNTD monthly e-newsletter on NTDs and cross-cutting issues - December 2018

Leprosy Mailing List – December 17,  2018

Ref.:   (LML)  InfoNTD monthly e-newsletter on NTDs and cross-cutting issues - December 2018

From:  Ilse Egers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands


Dear colleagues,

This newsletter provides you with a selection of news items and recent publications on cross-cutting issues in NTDs. Our starting point is to add articles covering a wide variety of issues. Unfortunately, this is not always possible due to a limited diversity in and shortage of articles on cross-cutting issues and NTDs.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or to receive the PDF if a link to the full text is not included.
Our document delivery service is free!

We wish you happy holidays and a good and healthy New Year.

Ilse Egers, info@InfoNTD.org
InfoNTD Coordinator
www.InfoNTD.org


New publications

Does global drug innovation correspond to burden of disease? The neglected diseases in developed and developing countries.
Barrenho E, Miraldo M, Smith PC. Health Econ. 2018:1-21.
Abstract Although it is commonly argued that there is a mismatch between drug innovation and disease burden, there is little evidence on the magnitude and direction of such disparities. In this paper, we measure inequality in innovation, by comparing research and development activity with population health and gross domestic product data across 493 therapeutic indications to globally measure: (a) drug innovation, (b) disease burden, and (c) market size.
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Neglected tropical diseases: A biosocial perspective.
Galhotra A, Mishra A. Springer Singapore. 2018.
Abstract Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a medically diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical climates, globally. The World Health Organization has identified 18 diseases as NTDs. These diseases flourish under conditions of poverty and filth, where housing is substandard, drinking water is unsafe, sanitation is poor, insect vectors are rampant, and there is restricted or nearly nonexistent access to health care.
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How the NNN is bringing sectors together to beat NTDs and achieve health for all.
Kollmann KHM, Wohlgemuth L. International Coalition for Trachoma Control. 2018.
Abstract Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of diseases that thrive in underdeveloped areas, where basic services, such as access to water, hygiene and sanitation or care are limited. Their affects, such as disability, social exclusion and stigma, exacerbate development challenges and can keep whole communities trapped in a cycle of poverty. The control and elimination of NTDs requires cross-sectoral collaboration to respond to these cross cutting development issues that impede progress. 
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Organization of oversight for integrated control of neglected tropical diseases within Ministries of Health.
Standley C, Boyce MR, Klineberg A, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(11):e0006929.
Abstract Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are communicable diseases that impact approximately 1 billion people, but receive relatively little research, funding, and attention. Here, we examine the landscape of efforts towards NTD integration across countries with the highest burden of disease, and review the administrative management of integration in order to identify approaches and pathways for integration.
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Buruli ulcer in southern Côte D'ivoire: dynamic schemes of perception and interpretation of modes of transmission.
Konan DO, Mosi L, Fokou G, et al. J Biosoc Sci. 2018:1-14.
Abstract Buruli ulcer (BU) belongs to the group of neglected tropical diseases and constitutes a public health problem in many rural communities in Côte d'Ivoire. The transmission patterns of this skin infection are poorly defined, hence the current study aimed to contribute to the understanding, perceptions and interpretations of its mode of transmission using a socio-environmental approach.
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Barriers to access to visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis and care among seasonal mobile workers in Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A qualitative study.
Coulborn RM, Gebrehiwot TG, Schneider M, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(11):e0006778.
Abstract Ethiopia bears a high burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Early access to VL diagnosis and care improves clinical prognosis and reduces transmission from infected humans; however, significant obstacles exist. The approximate 250,000 seasonal mobile workers (MW) employed annually in northwestern Ethiopia may be particularly disadvantaged and at risk of VL acquisition and death. Our study aimed to assess barriers, and recommend interventions to increase access, to VL diagnosis and care among MWs.
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Shadow puppets and neglected diseases (2): A qualitative evaluation of a health promotion performance in rural Indonesia.
Williams C, Stewart DE, Bendrups D, et al. 2018.
Abstract Performing arts used as a method of spreading health information dates back to the origins of storytelling. However, interventions in developing, non-Western countries typically utilise Western entertainment forms. This qualitative investigation assesses responses to an intervention designed around traditional Javanese shadow puppetry (wayang kulit).
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Onchocerciasis: A neglected tropical disease still within and around us: A case report from Makurdi North-Central Nigeria.
Echekwube PO, Abidakum OA. J. Biomed. Res. Clin. Pract. 2018; 1(3):220-222.
Abstract Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. The disease is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases which causes various cutaneous and extra-cutaneous disorders and creates a heavy burden on the sufferers. There is ongoing transmission of the disease despite all efforts at elimination mostly in rural communities. We report a case in a farmer who presented with features of chronic onchocerciasis and was further stigmatized in his community. Therefore, all efforts at elimination of the disease should be intensified.
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Assessment of the prevalence of soil transmitted helminthiasis in Bangladesh.
Nasreen H, Karim J, Rahman M, et al. ABC Research Alert. 2018; 6(3):180-185.
Abstract Intestinal worm infestation is a global health problem. Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) infects nearly 2 billion people of world's population with children being the most affected. STH infections rarely cause mortality with diarrhea, abdominal pain and low hemoglobin levels as the immediate outcome of infections, however, the long term effects of these infections are far more sinister as those with infections show reduced cognitive abilities, intellectual capacity and lower work productivity.
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Eliminating neglected tropical diseases in urban areas: A review of challenges, strategies and research directions for successful mass drug administration.
Adams AM, Vuckovic M, Birch E, et al. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2018; 3(4).
Abstract Since 1950, the global urban population grew from 746 million to almost 4 billion and is expected to reach 6.4 billion by mid-century. Almost 90% of this increase will take place in Asia and Africa and disproportionately in urban slums. In this context, concerns about the amplification of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are warranted and efforts towards achieving effective mass drug administration (MDA) coverage become even more important.
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New approaches for conducting surveillance for lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes and implications for other neglected tropical diseases.
Won KY. University of Basel. 2018:230.
Abstract The overarching goal of this PhD thesis was to provide recommendations on approaches for conducting surveillance for LF elimination programmes. There were two interlinked objectives: (i) to determine the utility of serologic tools during the post-MDA surveillance period within communities that have received multiple rounds of LF MDA; and (ii) to determine the utility of the transmission assessment survey (TAS) and other activities during the post-MDA surveillance period as platforms for integrated disease surveillance.
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Snakebite envenomation in the Brazilian Amazon: a descriptive study.
Magalhães SFV, Peixoto HM, Moura N, et al. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2018.
Abstract Snakebite envenomation in the Brazilian Amazon is a recognized public health problem that does not receive the appropriate attention from key stakeholders. The morbidity rate is relevant, but still underestimated. Thus, the present study updates the current state of knowledge on snakebite envenomation in the Brazilian Amazon.
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An investigation of onchocerciasis disease in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Implications for community health counseling programs.
Umoke PCI, Umoke M, Ene CU, et al. International journal of applied engineering research. 2018; 13(21):15143-15148.
Abstract Despite the control programme mounted in 1997 by the African Programme on Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) in collaboration with Ebonyi State Government, the disease still persists. The main purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of Onchocerciasis disease in Ebonyi State. The survey research design was used to carry out the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied using a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 22934 respondents aged 10 years and above.
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On-going transmission of human onchocerciasis in the Massangam health district in the West Region of Cameroon: Better understanding transmission dynamics to inform changes in programmatic interventions.
Bakajika D, Senyonjo L, Enyong P, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(11):e0006904.
Abstract Massangam health district (HD), in the West Region of Cameroon, has received ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) for 20 years, however there is evidence of continued high transmission of Onchocerca volvulus. In order to better understand the transmission dynamics in the HD and inform intervention strategies there is a need to delineate the boundaries of the suspected area of high transmission within the wider transmission zone.
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The right to deworming: The case for girls and women of reproductive age.
Gyorkos TW, Montresor A, Belizario V, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(11):e0006740.
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Under the Big Tree. Extraordinary stories from the movement to end neglected tropical diseases (book).
Agler E, Crigler M. 2019.
Abstract Drawing on interviews with major players in the NTD world who share their cutting-edge research and frontline experiences, Under the Big Tree is a moving introduction to the science, the tactics, and the partnerships working to address these terrible diseases that affect the most vulnerable people in the world.
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'I should not feed such a weak woman'. Intimate partner violence among women living with podoconiosis: A qualitative study in northern Ethiopia.
Tsegay G, Kassaye K, Deyessa N, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018.
Abstract Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Research indicates that adults suffering from long term, disabling conditions are more likely to be victims of IPV due to the intersection of disease-associated stigma and discrimination. This study explores the relationship between IPV and podoconiosis in northern Ethiopia with the aim of identifying new avenues for limiting disability and promoting the wellbeing of people affected by this neglected tropical disease.
Read more


Alleviating the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Recent Developments in Diagnostics and Detection.
Hazra S, Patra S. Curr Top Med Chem. 2018.
Abstract Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are communicable diseases caused by a group of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths prevalent in more than 145 countries that affect the world's poverty stricken populations. WHO enlists 18 NTDs amongst people living in endemic areas having inaccessibility to preventive measures. Steps to reduce the global disease burden of the NTDs need attention at multi-factorial levels.
Read more


Optimizing age-structured and risk-based mass drug administration against soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Ghana using cost-effectiveness analysis.
Thakur M, Mohammed R, Mubayi A. Preprints. 2018:20.
Abstract Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a neglected tropical disease (NTD) remains a major health problem all over the world including Ghana, which has STH prevalence of 25.4%. To control the disease, the government of Ghana currently concentrates on implementing mass drug administration (MDA) efforts focusing only among school-aged children. However, various studies have suggested that focusing on only a specific group for MDA may not be cost-effective.
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Advancing toward the elimination of lymphatic filariasis.
Molyneux DH. N. Engl. J. Med. 2018; 379(19):1871-1872.
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Prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in the Northeastern States of India, with particular reference to Assam and prospects of elimination.
Khan AM, Dutta P, Khan SA, et al. Springer Singapore. 2018:149-164.
Abstract India is committed for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (ELF) by 2020. Efforts were made to achieve this goal across the country during the last 10 years or so, and data thus generated reflect both the success and weaknesses of the ELF programme. India is contributing highest load of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) infection to the global scenario, thus facing a massive challenge to make ELF programme a success.
Read more


The Indian Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme: The success to sustain.
Srivastava PK, Dhariwal AC, Tyagi BK. Springer Singapore. 2018:193-198.
Abstract India, being one of the signatories to the resolution of the World Health Organization in achieving global elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2020, has in fact made phenomenal strides in getting rid of the scourge much earlier by 2018. In the process, while the nation has succeeded in reducing microfilaraemia rate below 1% in most states/UTs, it has actually eliminated the diseases in some others. Thus, India is clearly marching ahead to knock off the infection and offer a model to several endemic countries struggling to combat the crippling disease.
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Coverage and compliance of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Khammam district.
Alwala RR, Bolla CR, Dudala SR, et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018; 5(12):1-5.
Abstract Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an important public health and socio-economic problem in the world and it was identified as one of the six diseases, which could be targeted for elimination /eradication. Annual mass drug administration of DEC with selective vector control could result in the effective elimination of infection by interruption of transmission. The present study aimed to find the coverage and compliance of mass drug administration (MDA) of diethyl-carbamazine (DEC) for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Khammam district in November 2009.
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Lymphatic filariasis elimination: Update for mission possible.
Srivastava PK, Dhariwal AC. Springer Singapore. 2018:15-32.
Abstract In India, lymphatic filariasis is reported to be endemic in 250 districts (presently 256) in 16 states and 5 UTs. This disease is targeted for elimination, and to achieve this goal, the Government of India, in year 2004, launched the strategy of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with a single dose of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) to the population living at risk of filariasis except for children below 2 years, pregnant women and seriously ill persons.
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The soil-transmitted helminths in Sri Lanka: a review of the recent literature.
de Silva NR. Sri Lankan journal of infectious diseases. 2018; 8(2):60-68.
Abstract The available scientific literature published on STH infections in Sri Lanka from around the year 2000 onwards is reviewed here in three broad areas: prevalence of STH infections and factors affecting transmission, impact of control activities on prevalence and drug resistance, and the impact of STH infections on the health of infected individuals. In conclusion, an overview of the current control strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka is presented.
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Progress on elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Sierra Leone.
Koroma JB, Sesay S, Conteh A, et al. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11(1):334.
Abstract A baseline survey in 2007-2008 found lymphatic filariasis (LF) to be endemic in Sierra Leone in all 14 districts and co-endemic with onchocerciasis in 12 districts. Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin started in 2006 for onchocerciasis and was modified to add albendazole in 2008 to include LF treatment. After five MDAs, in 2013, mf prevalence and density were again measured as part of a pre-transmission assessment survey (pre-TAS) conducted per WHO guidelines.
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Design parameters for population-based trachoma prevalence survey.
World Health Organization. 2018.
Abstract This document presents the principles important to the design of trachoma prevalence surveys conducted after interventions intended to eliminate the disease as a public health problem, and WHO recommendations for their implementation. The intended audience is technical units of health ministries of trachoma-endemic countries and their supporting partners.
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Programmatic evaluation of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis and reasons for non-compliance in Gulbarga district, Karnataka in 2015.
Naresh Kumar SJ, Sunil BN. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018; 5(12):5166-5170.
Abstract Mass drug administration (MDA) to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) is conducted once annually in the identified endemic districts of the country. MDA implementation is assessed by appointed independent teams within 2-3 weeks of the activity to suggest mid-term corrections and strengthen the on-going programme. This study was undertaken to assess the process of MDA implementation, drug coverage and compliance and to identify the reasons for non-compliance.
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Celebrating 20 years of progress: accelerating towards elimination.
Sarah V, Adams AB, Jesudason T. Community Eye Health. 2018; 31(103):73.
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News

Governments and philanthropists announce new funding for neglected tropical diseases
4 December 2018 | Geneva −− The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed the announcement of new funding to sustain global efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and avert the devastating impact they cause to mainly poor populations.
Read more https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/news/governments-and-philanthropists-announce-new-funding/en/
 
 
Engaging field staff to achieve greater country impact against neglected tropical diseases
26 November 2018 | Brazzaville | Geneva −− As part of its focus on prioritizing the needs of countries in their fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing customized training to National Professional Officers (NPOs) who are part of country office staff.
Read more https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/news/Engaging-field-staff-to-achieve-greater-country-impact/en/
 

Call for Papers


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