Emmanuel Chanda1, Mohd Arshad2, Asmaa Khaloua3, Wenyi Zhang4, Josephine Namboze5, Pentrina Uusiku6, Andreas H Angula6, Khoti Gausi7, Desta Tiruneh8, Quazi M Islam8, Korine Kolivras9, Ubydul Haque10,11,12. 1. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Cite du Djoue, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. 2. Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. 3. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, 1155 Union Circle #311366 Denton, Texas, USA. 4. Institute of Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, NO. 20 Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China. 5. World Health Organization, Country Office, Geza Banda-Adi Yacob St 178, Asmara 291-1, Eritrea. 6. Ministry of Health and Social Services, National Vector-borne Diseases Control Programme, Florence Nightingale Street, Windhoek, Namibia. 7. World Health Organization, East and Southern Africa Inter-country Support Team, Causeway Harare, Zimbabwe. 8. World Health Organization, Country Office, Windhoek, Namibia. 9. Department of Geography, Virginia Tech, 220 Stanger St, 115 Major Williams Hall, Blacksburg, VA, USA. 10. Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 11. Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 12. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX.
Abstract
Background: Namibia is one of the countries among the eight that are targeting malaria elimination in southern Africa. However, the country has encountered malaria epidemics in recent years. The objective of this study was to investigate malaria epidemics and to contribute to strengthening malaria surveillance and control in an effort to move Namibia toward eliminating malaria. Method: Malaria epidemiology data for 2014-2015 were collected from the weekly surveillance system. All consenting household members within a 100-m radius of index households were screened in 2016 using a Carestart malaria HRP2/pLDH combined rapid diagnostic test after epidemics. All houses within this radius were sprayed in 2016 with the pyrethroid deltamethrin and K-Othrine WG 250. Anopheles mosquito-positive breeding sites were identified and treated with the organophosphate larvicide temephos. Insecticide susceptibility and bioassay tests were conducted. Results: During the epidemic response period in 2016, 56 parasitologically confirmed Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in the Zambezi region were detected from active screening. The majority of those cases (83%) were asymptomatic infections. In the Kavango region, the malaria epidemic persisted, with 228 P. falciparum malaria cases recorded, but only 97 were investigated. In Namibia, malaria vector susceptibility was detected to 4% dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Indoor residual spraying was conducted in 377 (90%) of the targeted households along with community awareness through health education of 1499 people and distribution of more than 2000 information, education and communication materials. The P. falciparum malaria cases in the Zambezi decreased from 122 in week 9 to 97 after week 15. Conclusions: Malaria epidemics along with the persistence of asymptomatic reservoir infections pose a serious challenge in Namibia's elimination effort. The country needs to ensure sustainable interventions to target asymptomatic reservoir infections and prevent epidemics in order to successfully achieve its goal of eliminating malaria.
Background: Namibia is one of the countries among the eight that are targeting malaria elimination in southern Africa. However, the country has encountered malaria epidemics in recent years. The objective of this study was to investigate malaria epidemics and to contribute to strengthening malaria surveillance and control in an effort to move Namibia toward eliminating malaria. Method: Malaria epidemiology data for 2014-2015 were collected from the weekly surveillance system. All consenting household members within a 100-m radius of index households were screened in 2016 using a Carestart malaria HRP2/pLDH combined rapid diagnostic test after epidemics. All houses within this radius were sprayed in 2016 with the pyrethroid deltamethrin and K-Othrine WG 250. Anopheles mosquito-positive breeding sites were identified and treated with the organophosphate larvicide temephos. Insecticide susceptibility and bioassay tests were conducted. Results: During the epidemic response period in 2016, 56 parasitologically confirmed Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in the Zambezi region were detected from active screening. The majority of those cases (83%) were asymptomatic infections. In the Kavango region, the malaria epidemic persisted, with 228 P. falciparum malaria cases recorded, but only 97 were investigated. In Namibia, malaria vector susceptibility was detected to 4% dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Indoor residual spraying was conducted in 377 (90%) of the targeted households along with community awareness through health education of 1499 people and distribution of more than 2000 information, education and communication materials. The P. falciparum malaria cases in the Zambezi decreased from 122 in week 9 to 97 after week 15. Conclusions: Malaria epidemics along with the persistence of asymptomatic reservoir infections pose a serious challenge in Namibia's elimination effort. The country needs to ensure sustainable interventions to target asymptomatic reservoir infections and prevent epidemics in order to successfully achieve its goal of eliminating malaria.
Authors: Daniel H Haiyambo; Petrina Uusiku; Davies Mumbengegwi; Jeff M Pernica; Ronnie Bock; Benoit Malleret; Laurent Rénia; Beatrice Greco; Isaac K Quaye Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2019-05-01
Authors: Lindsey Wu; Michelle S Hsiang; Lisa M Prach; Leah Schrubbe; Henry Ntuku; Mi-Suk Kang Dufour; Brooke Whittemore; Valerie Scott; Joy Yala; Kathryn W Roberts; Catriona Patterson; Joseph Biggs; Tom Hall; Kevin K A Tetteh; Cara Smith Gueye; Bryan Greenhouse; Adam Bennett; Jennifer L Smith; Stark Katokele; Petrina Uusiku; Davis Mumbengegwi; Roly Gosling; Chris Drakeley; Immo Kleinschmidt Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2022-02-14
Authors: Jennifer L Smith; Davis Mumbengegwi; Erastus Haindongo; Carmen Cueto; Kathryn W Roberts; Roly Gosling; Petrina Uusiku; Immo Kleinschmidt; Adam Bennett; Hugh J Sturrock Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-06-25 Impact factor: 3.240