Sustainable malaria control: transdisciplinary approaches for translational applications.

Lyn-Marie Birkholtz,Riana Bornman,Walter Focke,Clifford Mutero,Christiaan De Jager

doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-431

Lyn-Marie Birkholtz, Riana Bornman + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-431

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Abstract

With the adoption of the Global Malaria Action Plan, several countries are moving from malaria control towards elimination and eradication. However, the sustainability of some of the approaches taken may be questionable. Here, an overview of malaria control and elimination strategies is provided and the sustainability of each in context of vector- and parasite control is assessed. From this, it can be concluded that transdisciplinary approaches are essential for sustained malaria control and elimination in malaria-endemic communities.

Highlights

Malaria is still the most important parasitic disease in humans, caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites that are transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes
The addition of a vaccine to the anti-malarial weaponry will enable long-term protection that cannot be achieved by chemical interventions, but it is unlikely that either a vaccine on its own or control of the parasite on its own will ever be effective for sustainable malaria control, which necessitates vigilant coordination of the available control strategies
Transdisciplinary approaches are essential in order to sustain control and elimination of this complex disease

Summary

Background

Malaria is still the most important parasitic disease in humans, caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites that are transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The addition of a vaccine to the anti-malarial weaponry will enable long-term protection that cannot be achieved by chemical interventions, but it is unlikely that either a vaccine on its own or control of the parasite on its own will ever be effective for sustainable malaria control, which necessitates vigilant coordination of the available control strategies This is true if malaria eradication is to be achieved by reducing parasite numbers to prevent parasite transmission. A few parasites (

Conclusions

28. Stopfer M: Malaria

56. White GB

Findings

59. Hoek WD