{"id":198,"date":"2017-12-01T09:23:32","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T14:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/elo\/?page_id=198"},"modified":"2019-05-24T14:01:29","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T18:01:29","slug":"updates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/elo\/updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latest news on malaria and other infectious diseases will be posted here. Share with me if you know any as well!<\/span><\/p>\n

2019<\/strong><\/h1>\n

May 22, 2019<\/h3>\n

Algeria and Argentina certified malaria-free by WHO<\/h4>\n

Excerpt from article: “Algeria and Argentina have been officially recognized by WHO as malaria-free. The certification is granted when a country proves that it has interrupted indigenous transmission of the disease for at least 3 consecutive years.<\/p>\n

Contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito, malaria remains one of the world\u2019s leading killers, with an estimated 219 million cases and over 400 000 malaria-related deaths in 2017. Approximately 60% of fatalities are among children aged under 5 years.<\/p>\n

Algeria is the second country in the WHO African Region to be officially recognized as malaria-free, after Mauritius, which was certified in 1973. Argentina is the second country in the WHO Region of the Americas to be certified in 45 years, after Paraguay in June 2018.<\/p>\n

Algeria and Argentina reported their last cases of indigenous malaria in 2013 and 2010 respectively.<\/p>\n

Link: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/detail\/22-05-2019-algeria-and-argentina-certified-malaria-free-by-who”<\/p>\n

April 30, 2019<\/h3>\n

Malaria vaccine pilot launched in Ghana<\/h4>\n

Excerpt from article: ”<\/p>\n

WHO Ghana welcomed the Ministry of Health\u2019s launch of the world\u2019s first malaria vaccine in a landmark pilot programme. Top health officials, WHO representatives, community leaders, and mothers and children gathered on 30 April 2019 to officially begin the vaccine rollout. The country-led phased vaccine introduction is supported by WHO and national and global health partners.<\/p>\n

Ghana is one of three African countries in which the vaccine, known as RTS,S, will be made available to children up to 2 years of age.<\/p>\n

Malaria remains one of the world\u2019s leading killers, claiming the life of one child every two minutes; most of these deaths are in Africa. In Ghana, about 20 percent of all children have malaria parasites in their blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a day to celebrate,\u201d said WHO Representative for Ghana Dr Owen Kaluwa. \u201cThis breakthrough in malaria control caps a 30-year effort to develop a vaccine with proven results to help prevent malaria in young children. The malaria vaccine has the potential to save tens of thousands of children\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Kaluwa congratulated the Ministry of Health of Ghana for its commitment to the RTS,S vaccine pilot and what it could mean to improve child health and malaria control.<\/p>\n

A roster of distinguished speakers participated in the event, including the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare. Deputy Minister of Health the Honorable Alexander K. K. Abban gave keynote remarks and then officially announced the vaccine pilot underway.<\/p>\n

Susana and Abigail, both age 6 months, were then vaccinated \u2013 the first children to receive the malaria vaccine in the Ghana pilot \u2013 in front of the attending audience of about 300 health workers, national immunization and malaria specialists and community supporters.”<\/p>\n

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Susana and Abigail, both 6 months, are the first to receive the RTS,S vaccine in Ghana. Photography credit: WHO\/Fanjan Combrink<\/p><\/div>\n

April 23, 2019<\/h3>\n

World’s First Malaria Vaccine Launches In Sub-Saharan Africa<\/h4>\n