The MEI's top publications of 2019

• Applying next-generation sequencing to track falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
  This review discusses the potential role of next-generation sequencing in understanding transmission patterns, accurately tracking parasite movement, and addressing the emerging challenges of imported malaria in low transmission settings of sub-Saharan Africa.
• Assessing malaria risk at night-time venues in a low-transmission setting: a time-location sampling study in Zambezi, Namibia.
  Formative research with community members in the western Zambezi Region shows that prevention measures and continued surveillance at night-time venues may be useful complements to existing malaria elimination efforts.
• Case Study Series on Malaria in Conflicts and Emergencies
  An analysis of malaria activities in diverse emergency settings revealed common themes across heterogeneous case studies, advancing critical lessons for both national malaria programs working towards elimination and the global malaria community.
• Designing malaria surveillance strategies for mobile and migrant populations in Nepal: a mixed-methods study.
  Population mobility and imported malaria cases from India may contribute to local malaria transmission in border areas of western Nepal. Venue and peer referral-based surveillance approaches that target high-risk mobile and migrant population subgroups would improve early malaria diagnosis and treatment.
• High Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in the Low-Transmission Setting of the Kingdom of Eswatini
  Study results from Eswatini counter the common perception that Plasmodium falciparum diversity declines with decreasing transmission intensity and demonstrate that intensity estimates from genetic data need to consider the effect of malaria importation as countries near elimination.
• Impact of Microscopic and Submicroscopic Parasitemia During Pregnancy on Placental Malaria in a High-Transmission Setting in Uganda.
  Frequency, density, and timing of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia during pregnancy were all found to be important risk factors for placental malaria among study participants in Uganda. Interventions should target the prevention of all levels of parasitemia throughout pregnancy.
• Screen and Treat Strategies for Malaria Elimination: A Review of Evidence
  A systematic review of both literature and experiences from national malaria control programs explores the utility and effectiveness of screen and treat methods, which may play an important role in supplementing routine case management through passive case detection, for transmission reduction and surveillance.
• Transmission-blocking Effects of Primaquine and Methylene Blue Suggest Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Sterilization Rather Than Effects on Sex Ratio.
  Study findings show that rather than affecting gametocyte density or sex ratio among mosquitoes that feed on patients’ blood, the gametocytocidal compounds primaquine and methylene blue appear to have an early sterilizing effect that precedes gametocyte clearance.
• Use of Routine Health Information System Data to Evaluate Impact of Malaria Control Interventions in Zanzibar, Tanzania from 2000 to 2015.
  Analysis of health management information system data over a 15-year period in Zanzibar demonstrates that malaria incidence declined rapidly following both the rollout of artemisinin-based combination therapy only and the complementary introduction of vector control measures, and decreased more gradually thereafter.
• What is community engagement and how can it drive malaria elimination? Case studies and stakeholder interviews.
  Empowering communities in planning and executing strategies to interrupt transmission is necessary to achieve malaria elimination. Successful community engagement must be an iterative process characterized by early involvement, frequent feedback, and active community participation.

A complete list of all publications led by the MEI is available here.