The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has significantly altered the epidemiology of other infectious diseases, making investigations into its co-infection with malaria particularly relevant in endemic regions. This review examines the epidemiological, incubation and clinical features of the two diseases, high...lighting the diagnostic challenges and strategies for accurate detection. Emerging immunological and genetic evidence indicates that prior exposure to malaria may reduce the severity of outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection through mechanisms involving ACE2 downregulation, TLR signalling, T-cell activation and upregulation of coinhibitory receptors. Additionally, potential control measures are discussed, including vaccine development, the repurposing of antimalarial drugs, the exploration of natural products, innovations in bioinsecticides, and the strengthening of electronic disease surveillance. These insights provide valuable guidance for clinical management and public health policy, while emphasising the need for continued research into the complex interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and malaria.
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The annual bulletin of the Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) programme is a yearly report that reviews ongoing efforts to combat multidrug resistance and eliminate malaria in the 6 countries of the Greater Mekong subregion (GMS): Cambodia, China (Yunnan province), Lao People's Democratic Republic, My...anmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.
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Lesotho’s Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy is a strategic response to the high levels of HIV and TB prevalence in the country that are exacerbated by the persistence of structural and sio-economic difficulties, such as poverty, unemployment, gender inequality and more. This strat...egy aims to address these issues.
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20 YEARS OF STRATEGIC HIV AND PUBLIC HEALTH DATA . beThe completion of the 6th South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM) report, coincides with the celebration of 30 years of democracy in South Africa; and marks 20 years of conducting nationally representative ho...usehold-based surveys by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), its collaborators and donors. Since its inception in 2002, the SABSSM series has emerged as one of the HSRC’s leading scientific contributions to the country’s HIV and AIDS response (1), providing essential data to monitor the HIV epidemic, the impact of the HIV program in South Africa, and to inform strategies for epidemic control in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (NSP), now in its fifth edition. Using scientific evidence from SABSSM and other key sources, the NSP guides the country’s response, under the leadership of the South African AIDS Council (SANAC) and the National Department of Health (NDoH), with focus on equitable access to biomedical interventions, addressing the structural and social behavioural drivers of the epidemic, and targeting populations disproportionately affected by HIV; such as, black Africans, key populations and adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15–24 years (2).
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