African cattle infected with the deadly East Coast fever parasite are less likely to die when co-infected with its milder cousin. The findings suggest a protective process that could also be at work in human malaria, where infections with milder parasites may protect against severe disease.
A new TB drug regimen, PaMZ, has shown promising results in a Phase 2b clinical trial, demonstrating the potential to treat both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant TB in four to six months. The regimen, comprising pretomanid and moxifloxacin, was found to be effective independent of HIV status.
The EU imports 25% of all soy, 18% of palm oil, 15% of beef, and 31% of leather from illegal tropical forest destruction. The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, and UK are major consumers of these commodities.
A two-year study found malaria incidence on the rise in rural Uganda, defying global trend of decline, due to inadequate current interventions. The study suggests a need for scaling up bednet distribution and considering new prevention measures.
Researchers found that maize production creates a perfect storm for plague transmission, with rodents and fleas increasing the risk of human infection. The study highlights the need for caution in expanding agriculture across Africa to prevent similar risks.
A new study reveals that clearing rainforests distorts wind and water patterns, altering growing conditions for crops like coffee and corn globally. The report finds that deforestation-induced warming and altered rainfall can impact agricultural productivity, with the US Midwest, Europe, and China potentially seeing changes.
A new study reveals that nearly 20% of tropical forests across Amazonia are at risk from human activities such as logging, mining, and agriculture. Protecting these carbon-rich ecosystems is crucial for global climate stability and the cultural identity of indigenous peoples.
A new study using forensic DNA tests successfully identified the species of venomous snakes that bit people 100% of the time. The test has the potential to improve care for patients affected by deadly snakebites in countries where this is a major health risk.
Researchers found high rates of individuals testing positive for Chagas disease and related heart disease in Texas, with rates 50 times higher than CDC estimates. The study aims to increase awareness and diagnosis of this emerging infectious disease in the southern United States.
A new study reveals that monkey-borne Plasmodium knowlesi is the leading cause of malaria hospitalizations in Malaysia, with 68% of cases attributed to this parasite. Deforestation and increased human interactions with macaques are potential culprits behind this rise in infections.
Researchers are developing two types of malaria vaccines: anti-infection vaccines that prevent people from becoming infected, and transmission-blocking vaccines that prevent mosquitoes from being infected. The goal is to induce an unnatural immunity in humans and mosquitoes, reducing the human parasite reservoir.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene estimates that India has nearly 6 million annual clinically diagnosed dengue cases, far exceeding official reported numbers. The disease inflicts a significant economic burden on the country, totaling US$1.11 billion annually.
A new national study finds that holistic review increases diversity in incoming classes while maintaining academic standards. Nearly 40% of schools reported an increase in average GPA, with no change to measures of academic quality or student retention.
The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) has awarded $15.3 million in grants to support the development of promising vaccines and drugs against three insect-borne diseases: malaria, dengue, and Chagas disease. These investments aim to tackle diseases that disproportionately affect the world's poorest populations.
A groundbreaking study in Tanzania successfully infects volunteers with malaria in a controlled laboratory setting, paving the way for accelerated development of new treatments. The innovative PfSPZ Challenge method eliminates the need for live mosquitoes, reducing costs and increasing accessibility to malaria research and treatment.
Community forests hold 37.7 billion tonnes of carbon, a critical tool to reduce emissions and fight climate change. Strengthening community rights can prevent deforestation and mitigate climate change by up to 12 billion tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers mapped live poultry markets in China to predict H7N9 spread; dense clusters of markets facilitate emergence and transmission. Maps help target surveillance and contain outbreaks.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report reveals that programs and policies to reduce tropical deforestation have been successful in 17 countries across four continents. Successful reductions result from various policy options, including forest protected areas, moratoriums, and financial incentives through the REDD+ program.
The report suggests that reducing global beef consumption, reducing food waste, and improving farm nutrient management can deliver big climate wins while maintaining food security. Implementing these strategies could cut over three gigatonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
A new study found that children treated at private clinics in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely to receive life-saving oral rehydration therapy, while poorer and rural children face significant disparities in care. The research estimates that closing the gap in care could save up to 20,000 lives annually.
The IPCC report highlights the urgent need for actions to adapt to climate change and ensure food production and security. Innovative solutions, such as improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, can significantly lessen negative impacts.
A new study confirms that global diets have grown more similar over the last five decades, leading to a decline in diverse local crops. This trend has major consequences for human nutrition and global food security, increasing the risk of food crises due to climate change.
A study by World Health Organization found that keeping vaccines at ambient temperatures during campaigns could cut storage and transportation costs in half. The approach significantly reduces the workloads of health workers and extends vaccines to remote areas without access to electricity.
The study estimates cumulative healthcare expenditures and lost productivity due to WNV disease have been substantially underestimated. Hospitalized cases of WNV disease have cost a cumulative $778 million in health care expenditures and lost productivity.
A new study analyzed the diet and digestion of cows, chickens, and pigs to determine their impact on climate change. The research found that animal diets vary greatly depending on the region, with some animals requiring more food to produce a kilo of protein than others.
Researchers have found a modified version of a common human dietary supplement to be effective in curing lab animals infected with hookworms. The probiotic was found to be safe and potentially lethal to intestinal worms, offering new hope for treating the disease that affects 1.5 billion people globally.
Scientists discover genetic mechanisms allowing Plasmodium vivax parasite to invade red blood cells, potentially rendering Duffy-negative individuals susceptible to vivax malaria. The research suggests the parasite may be rapidly evolving, increasing the risk for millions of Africans who previously had natural protection.
The updated 2013 Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap sets a new target for vaccines to reduce malaria cases by 75 percent and be licensed by 2030. The roadmap also aims for malaria elimination through the development of safe and effective vaccines that prevent disease, death, and transmission.
Researchers investigating dengue fever's presence in two US cities, Key West and Tucson, found similarities in resident behavior and mosquito population sizes despite differing climates. The study aims to understand why dengue is not more common in Tucson, where mosquito control campaigns are less intensive.
A study by ICRAF and European institutions finds that local communities using simple tools can produce accurate forest carbon data on par with results by professional foresters. Community-gathered data is also found to be more legitimate, cost-effective, and improve trust among local communities.
Despite progress, most US medical schools still lag behind national standards in managing clinical conflicts of interest (CCOI). A new study reveals that institutions are improving, but nearly a third lack policies on industry ties.
Pursuing clean water projects and vaccination campaigns could avert up to 89,000 future cholera infections and protect against other water-borne diarrheal diseases. Improved WASH services have long-term benefits for Haiti's public health beyond ending cholera transmission.
The malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S has shown significant protection against clinical malaria and severe malaria cases in young children and infants. Over 18 months of follow-up, the vaccine reduced clinical malaria cases by almost half in children aged 5-17 months and malaria hospitalizations by 42%.
A new report by IFPRI and ASARECA suggests that Kenyan farmers may not only survive but thrive in the face of climate change. The study predicts a shift in maize production due to changing weather patterns, offering opportunities for farmers to adapt to new conditions.
Researchers have developed a method to exploit biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in Brachiaria grasses, which can significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions and nitrogen leaching. This approach offers potential for increasing crop yields while keeping global climate change within manageable limits.
Indigenous groups from 17 countries deploy powerful mapping tools combined with traditional knowledge to mark and safeguard their lands. The technology helps document history, catalog natural resources, and bolster fights against destruction of forests, peatlands, and waterways.
Researchers isolated Heartland virus in tick populations in northwestern Missouri, confirming its role as a human pathogen. The virus causes severe illness with fever, headaches, and low white blood cell counts, with no treatment available.
A new study warns that climate change will significantly reduce water flows in the Volta River Basin, depriving countries of water needed to drive turbines and feed farms. The Volta Basin is expected to face severe water shortages by 2100, posing major challenges for agriculture and food security.
A new report from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security charted a path for farmers to adapt to climate shifts despite uncertainties. The study highlights 'regret-free' approaches that build on current capacities in agriculture and environmental management.
The GHIT Fund will screen Japanese pharmaceutical companies' and research institutes' compound libraries for new treatments of malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected diseases like leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.
Researchers have developed a new rapid diagnostic test for worm infections that provides substantial improvement over the current standard. The test is expected to be more sensitive and easier to use than existing methods, and will help guide public health efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects approxim...
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $2.9 million grant to Aeras, Oxford University, and Okairos to develop novel vaccines against tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. The collaboration aims to create scalable methods for large-scale production of multiple chimpanzee adenovirus vector constructs.
The Cassava Brown Streak Disease has been identified as the most serious threat among various cassava viruses, with outbreaks reported in several countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The disease is caused by a highly infectious virus that can claim 100% of a farmer's harvest without their knowledge.
The Third Global Forum on TB Vaccines brings together researchers and stakeholders to review progress and discuss strategies to advance the field. New research suggests that novel vaccines for adolescents and adults could significantly reduce TB cases and deaths in high-burden countries by 2050.
PatientsLikeMe will develop open-participation research platform with RWJF grant, generating meaningful health outcome measures aligned with patient needs. Researchers can pilot, deploy, share, and validate new ways to measure diseases.
Researchers at World Agroforestry Centre developed nomographs to map out fire behavior, pinpointing optimal conditions for early-season prescribed fires. These controlled burns reduce the risk of late dry season bushfires, exacerbated by climate change.
A new study found that malaria and typhoid fever are the biggest health threats for travelers to tropics, affecting 4% of returned travelers. The study analyzed over 82,000 ill travelers and found no cases of Ebola or other feared diseases.
A year-long study found that ceramic cookstoves in rural Kenya reduced air pollution but had no significant impact on pneumonia rates among young children. Despite lower smoke levels and respiratory symptoms, the stoves did not demonstrate a substantial health benefit.
The MenAfriVac meningitis A vaccine has been approved for use outside the cold chain for up to four days, enabling expanded access to vaccination programs. The vaccine's heat stability has been validated through a rigorous review and pilot use in Benin, with promising results showing reduced disease burden and herd immunity.
Researchers report progress in Pakistan's efforts to eradicate polio, with the potential elimination of one type of wild poliovirus. However, vaccine refusals remain a major challenge, driven by false rumors and misinformation. In Nigeria, a surge in cases threatens to re-infect countries that have already been cleared of polio.