Journal of travel medicine
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Imported malaria cases continue to pose major challenges in China as well as in other countries that have achieved elimination. Early diagnosis and treatment of each imported malaria case is the key to successfully maintaining malaria elimination success. This study aimed to build an easy-to-use predictive nomogram to predict and intervene against delayed care-seeking among international migrant workers with imported malaria. ⋯ The tool provides public health practitioners with a method for the early detection of delayed care-seeking risk among international migrant workers with imported malaria, which may be of significance in improving post-travel healthcare for labour migrants, reducing the risk of severe malaria, preventing malaria reintroduction and sustaining achievements in malaria elimination.
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Malaria continues to pose a significant burden in endemic countries, many of which lack access to molecular surveillance. Insights from malaria cases in travellers returning to non-endemic areas can provide valuable data to inform endemic country programmes. To evaluate the potential for novel global insights into malaria, we examined epidemiological and molecular data from imported malaria cases to Australia. ⋯ Our analysis highlights the continuing burden of imported malaria into Australia. Molecular studies have offered valuable insights into drug resistance and diagnostic limitations, and established reference genomes. Integrating molecular data into national surveillance systems could provide important infectious disease intelligence to optimize treatment guidelines for returning travellers and support endemic country surveillance programmes.
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PfSPZ vaccines comprising Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites (SPZ) have demonstrated > 90% protection against variant Pf malaria infections for at least 12 weeks; they are the only vaccines with the level of efficacy necessary to protect travellers. PfSPZ are eukaryotic cells stabilized by cryopreservation and distributed using a cryogenic (below -150 °C) cold chain. The Ebola vaccine and mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 pioneered uptake of vaccines requiring non-standard ultra-low temperature cold chains. The cryogenic cold chain using liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapour phase (LNVP) cryoshippers, is simpler, more efficient than -80, -20 or 2-8 °C cold chains, and does not use electricity. This study was conducted to evaluate implementation and integration of a cryogenically distributed vaccine at travel and military immunization clinics. ⋯ These studies demonstrated that the training in delivery, storage, administration and integration of PfSPZ vaccines can be successfully managed in different immunization clinic settings for travellers and military personnel.