Global Malaria News

The following is an excerpt from the MNM Policy Center’s Malaria Watch blog:

Previously, it had been thought that chemicals like DEET and other repellents blocked receptors in mosquitoes’ antennae limiting their ability to smell.

However, new research from scientists at the University of Vanderbilt has identified a new set of olfactory sensors in malarial mosquitoes that provide the insects with information about their environment. According to the findings, mosquitoes respond unfavorably to particular stimuli, such as DEET, the same way humans respond unfavorably to the smell of rotten food.

Finding such as this could help scientists develop more effective repellents to ward off malarial mosquitoes, further aid in the fight to end malaria.

To read the full excerpt on the MNMCP blog, click here.

Millions of free malaria drugs are sent to Africa every year by international donors. New research is now providing evidence for what health workers have long suspected: some of the donated medication is being stolen and resold on commercial markets. (Source: CTV Health)

In the lead-up to TEDxChange, a TED event focused on the progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Melinda Gates blogged about our work on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation site.

In her post, Melinda noted: Malaria No More, one of our grantees, is taking a creative approach to raising awareness about malaria. They’ve been a fantastic partner–find out more about them from this GOOD profile of their work. They’re working with the Senegalese singing sensation Youssou N’Dour to educate people through his song “Xeex Sibbiru.” The song–whose title translates “Fight Malaria” in Wolof (a language spoken in several African countries)–encourages listeners to take action against malaria. They’ve also launched an American Idol-style singing contest. The campaign encouraged musicians to write songs to raise awareness about malaria.

A few years ago, Bill and I challenged the health field to set a goal of eventually eradicating malaria. With inspirational examples such as these, it’s clear the world is making great progress against this disease. That’s why we remain optimistic that the goal of eradication will ultimately be met.

We’re grateful for Melinda’s GOOD words and look forward to attending the TEDxChange Webcast on September 20th. You too can RSVP here.

It now appears that the malaria mosquito relies on a battery of different types of odor sensors to mediate its most critical behaviors, including how to choose and locate their blood-meal hosts. In an article to be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology, researchers at Vanderbilt University have characterized two families of molecular odorant sensors in Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito responsible for the majority of human malaria transmission... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

The malaria mosquito needs more than one family of odor sensors to sniff out its human prey, new research suggests. New research provides striking new evidence that Anopheles gambiae -- the species of mosquito that spreads malaria that infects some 250 million and kills 900,000 people annually -- has a second set of olfactory sensors that are fundamentally different from the set of sensors that scientists have known about and have been studying for the last 10 years. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

(Swedish Research Council) Counterfeiting of drugs is a huge industry with an annual turnover of more than SEK 500 billion ($68.8 billion). In Africa the situation is extremely serious. Half of the malaria medication sold there could be ineffective or even harmful. Researchers from Lund and the UK have now developed a technique that could resolve the situation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

(Journal of Clinical Investigation) This release contains summaries, links to PDFs, and contact information for the following newsworthy papers to be published online, Sept. 1, 2010, in the JCI: "Protecting nerve cells from death in a model of stroke"; "Modified adenovirus malaria vaccine works a treat in mice"; "Mechanisms of testicular cancer drug resistance"; "Pacifying protein levels to treat diabetes"; "Preemptive approach to decreasing scarring in the heart"; and others. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

LONDON (AP) — Millions of free malaria drugs are sent to Africa every year by international donors. New research is now providing evidence for what health workers have long suspected: some of the donated medication is being stolen and resold on... (Source: OrlandoSentinel: Medical Research)

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Reports of life-threatening reactions to the off-label use of the malaria drug quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) to treat nighttime leg cramps has led the Food and Drug Administration to issue a warning on the use of the drug. (Source: Clinical Neurology News)

Experts warn of people’s hazardous desire for a tanRelated items from OnMedicaParents unsure of HPV vaccine for daughters Low IQ second strongest predictor of heart diseaseCancer survivors most at risk are more likely to smokeVaccine linked to earlier onset of seizures in Dravet syndromeMost UK malaria is from family visits abroad (Source: OnMedica Latest News)

As you may have read on Buzzwords back in March, Ara Parikh and students at Deerfield Beach High School hosted dodge ball tournaments to bounce malaria. So far, $4000 has been raised for charities, including MNN. And, as if that news wasn’t good enough, we got to spend a week with Ara. Here’s what she had to say about her stay:

Dodge Malaria was a great success, and when I called to thank the supportive MNM staff, they asked if I’d be interested in visiting their New York office. I jumped at the chance!

Last month I spent a week shadowing Marisa Kleinman, probably the nicest person you’ll ever meet! I was able to interact with the entire Marketing and Communications team, who filled me in on their latest projects and then put me to work on the Stayin’ Alive campaign, which is all about students taking action by dedicating a dance or other event to the fight against malaria.

While the office is constantly a buzz (pun intended!) with hard work, there’s always a degree of fun. On Fridays, the team comes together for Bagels and Brainstorming, where they discuss their craziest ideas over breakfast.

My week at MNM was illuminating. I learned about the inner workings of a nonprofit organization and got great suggestions for future Dodge Malaria events. But, most importantly, the week reinforced my passion to do all that I can to help fight malaria.

Last week, the government launched a programme that will see the cost of malaria drugs drop by more than 90 per cent in the private sector. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

(Vanderbilt University) It now appears that the malaria mosquito needs more than one family of odor sensors to sniff out its human prey. That is the implication of new research into the mosquito's sense of smell published in the Aug. 31 issue of the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)

Five years ago today, Hurricane Katrina stormed through New Orleans and left the jazz capital immersed in standing water for weeks, bringing death and breeding grounds for mosquitoes and their diseases. But now, that seems like water under the bridge.

The resilient city is bouncing back to life. And everyone from George Clooney to Spike Lee to President Obama is behind the Big Easy. “Because of you,” the president declared, “New Orleans is coming back.”

We couldn’t agree more. To read more about the anniversary and President Obama’s visit, click here.

With his new book, Danish scientist Bjørn Lomborg has become an unlikely advocate for huge investment in fighting global warming. But his answers are unlikely to satisfy all climate change campaignersFew statisticians can have inspired more passion than Bjørn Lomborg, the Danish academic who became famous as the author of the controversial (some would say contrarian) Skeptical Environmentalist, which set him up as perhaps the world's best-known critic of the dominant scientific view of global warming and the ensuing climate change.Lomborg's prolific output has been almost matched by books rubbishing his work: critics have described him as selective, unprofessional and confused. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN's climate change panel, has compared him to Adolf Hitler – for the stat...

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This article was amended on 31st August 2010 to remove an accidental duplication of the quote from Rajendra Pachauri.Climate change scepticismClimate changeCarbon emissionsClimate changeJuliette Jowitguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

Conclusion to Smart Solutions to Climate Change, 2010What the IPCC chairman says about him:"What is the difference between Lomborg's view of humanity and Hitler's? You cannot treat people like cattle. You must respect the diversity of cultures on earth. Lomborg thinks of people like numbers … if you were to accept Lomborg's way of thinking, then maybe what Hitler did was the right thing." Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, interview, April 2004"This book provides not only a reservoir of information on the reality of human-induced climate change, but raises vital questions and examines viable options on what can be done to meet the challenge." Rajendra Pachauri, endorsement for Smart Solutions to Climate Change, 2010Climate changeClimate chang...

Latest survey results in Tanzania indicate that the percentage of households owning at least one insecticide treated net (ITN) has increased to 63.4% in 2009/10, up from 39.2% in 2007/08. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

The head of malaria control program in Golij sub-zone, Mr. Arefaine Menan, called on the local inhabitants to take the necessary pre-emptive measures towards preventing the spread of malaria infection. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

The Centre for Treatment and Research and AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other Epidemics (TRAC plus) has urged nurses in the country to embrace Internet and mobile phone use in giving reports. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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