Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a gynaecological disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic worm that is acquired by skin contact with freshwater contaminated by schistosome cerceriae. Communities in which the infection is most endemic have limited access to clean water and healt ... hcare services. Up to 150 million adolescent girls and women are estimated to be at risk of FGS and about 16–56 milion womens are living with FGS, with the majority of these in sub-Saharan Africa. The variability of these estimates points to the fact that this neglected tropical disease is not well studied and frequently not prioritized by local, regional, and global health policy makers. more

As the Americas undergo profound demographic change and there are more persons aged 65 years or older than children younger than 5 years, it is crucial to recognize that national immunization programs must be redesigned to ensure comprehensive protection for individuals across the lifespan. By adopt ... ing a life course approach (LCA) to immunization, vaccination programs can be tailored to close immunity gaps at different stages of life. The life course approach foresees the establishment of multiple strategies to reduce missed opportunities for vaccination according to age group. This technical document explains the key concepts of the LCA with a focus on immunization by vaccination, as well as the underlying biological mechanisms that require the application different vaccines at different life stages according to changes to the immune system and in the epidemiological situation of a community. more

PLOS Glob Public Health 4(12): e0004035. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004035. A new formulation of praziquantel, arpraziquantel (arPZQ), has been developed for preschool- aged children (PSAC) to fill the treatment gap for this age group in schistosomiasis control and elimination program ... s. There is now a priority to ensure that the drug reaches all at-risk PSAC in endemic areas, including hard-to-reach areas and populations. This study aimed to deter- mine schistosomiasis treatment-related contextual factors among fishermen and island popu- lations in Homa Bay County, Kenya, and to identify a suitable platform to deliver arPZQ. more