Last Updated: 17/12/2024
Malaria elimination in Zanzibar: New tools and strategies
Objectives
Besides in depth surveillance of malaria control coverage and impact, this project wants to study parasite population dynamics, molecular characteristics and gene flows whilst under heavy intervention exposure. Proof of concept studies on two new potential interventions are proposed: mass drug administration against residual parasite reservoir and toxic attractive sugar bait traps against especially outdoor transmission.
Nowhere in sub-Saharan Africa has malaria control provided as great impact as in Zanzibar thus now also providing first hand evidence of obstacles towards potential elimination. Residual asymptomatic infections and shift in mosquito behaviour, as well as insecticidal resistance, represent such important threats. We want to better understand these control escaping mechanisms and prevent/overcome these constraints by new targeted interventions.
Our project includes epidemiological studies of trends regarding morbidity/mortality, malaria parasites and malaria mosquitoes. Methodologies include trend analyses of uniquely comprehensive epidemiological, clinical parasitological, entomological and demographic parameters, also including molecular surveillance expanded to include methods such as whole parasite genome sequencing, phylogenetic analyses etc. Major collaborators are Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, a molecular research unit in USA and entomological expertise from Sweden and UK. We expect to provide responses to new emerging obstacles for future malaria elimination in sub-Saharan Africa and possibly proof of concept answer to: ”Is malaria elimination possible in high endemic Africa?”
Jan 2018 — Dec 2020
$441,884
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