Researchers at Radboud University Medical Center have developed an injectable formulation of malaria parasites that can achieve controlled infection in human volunteers. The breakthrough could make it easier to evaluate new drugs and vaccines, as well as potentially become a vaccine itself.
Researchers found that antibiotic resistance for urinary tract infections increased by over 30% between 1999 and 2010, making treatment more challenging. The Southeast region had the highest burden of antibiotic resistance, while states in New England and Pacific regions showed lower levels of resistance.
Research on emerging tick-borne diseases reveals an expanding list of illnesses, including babesiosis and encephalitis-causing infections. The range of these diseases is growing, posing a threat to human health in the northeast United States.
The RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate has shown promising results, reducing clinical and severe malaria episodes by one-third in African infants. The vaccine demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, with side effects primarily including local injection site reactions.
A new study shows that New Jersey's decal law for novice drivers has prevented over 1,600 crashes and helped enforce regulations. The law, which requires a red decal on license plates, led to a 9% decrease in crashes involving peer passengers.
A 12-year-long study by ICRAF reveals that combining legume trees with maize fields increases yield stability and reduces fertilizer use. This sustainable solution helps farmers cope with droughts and degraded soils, producing consistent and relatively high yields year after year.
Local African herders guided scientists to decide which animals to immunize and when, achieving higher than 80% herd immunity. The eradication of rinderpest is a triumph against a disease that has plagued animals and humankind for centuries.
The Rust-Tracker system can monitor 42 million hectares of wheat in 27 developing countries and track the spread of stem rust and related strains. Experts warn that North Africa, Central Asia, and other regions are still vulnerable to the deadly disease.
A new study has found that 11% of people in remote Amazonian communities regularly exposed to vampire bats have natural protection against rabies. Ten percent appear to have survived exposure to the virus without medical intervention, suggesting a potential route for developing effective treatments.
A task force report calls for routine osteoporosis testing and medication treatment for all adults over 50 who experience a fracture, with the goal of reducing hip fractures by 20% by 2020. Fracture liaison services have been shown to significantly improve follow-up assessment and treatment, reducing repeat occurrences.
A novel approach to discover the first new tuberculosis (TB) combination drug regimen has cleared a major hurdle with a Phase II clinical trial finding it could kill more than 99 percent of patients' TB bacteria within two weeks. The results add to a growing body of evidence that this regimen could reduce treatment by more than a year ...
Researchers confirm indoor insecticide spraying reduces malaria deaths by 62% and finds DDT may be effective in areas with intense disease transmission. However, concerns over health risks must be weighed against its potential to reduce malaria illnesses and deaths.
The GAVI Alliance has pledged an additional $162 million to control and prevent measles outbreaks in six high-risk countries. The funding will strengthen routine immunisation systems and follows a decision last November to provide over $600 million to tackle rubella through a combined measles-rubella vaccine.
Four major foundations have committed up to $8.6 million in grants over five years to create a national Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. The center aims to accelerate teamwork and collaboration among health professionals and patients, promoting interprofessional education and practice.
The report shows facility prices outpaced general inflation, driving health spending growth among the privately insured. Per capita spending on healthcare services averaged $4,255 in 2010, with hospital and ambulatory care facility prices rising 5.1% and 10.1%, respectively.
The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) emphasizes the need for further research to improve treatment guidelines for osteoporosis patients taking bisphosphonates. The organization suggests that more research is necessary to determine the optimal length of therapy, as current recommendations may not be suitable for al...
A large-scale study found that young men who engaged in load-bearing sports for four hours a week or more increased bone mass and gained larger bones compared to sedentary individuals. This is thought to offer protection against osteoporosis, which affects men and women alike, leading to porous and weak bones that fracture over time.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with Archimedes Inc. to provide the advanced mathematical modeling tool, ArcheS, to its agencies for large-scale analyses of healthcare spending, treatment, and effectiveness. This will enable policymakers to make informed decisions on health care interventions.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene finds that dengue fever inflicts a $37.8 million burden on Puerto Rico each year, with households accounting for almost half of the costs. The study suggests that investing in traditional surveillance and prevention could save $5 for every $1 invested.
A study on Rwanda found that HIV/AIDS funding has no adverse effects on non-AIDS health services, and may even improve overall quality of care. The research suggests that comprehensive HIV/AIDS interventions can provide better preventive care, including superior delivery of childhood vaccinations.
Climate change is expected to reduce agriculture productivity by up to 50% in Southeast Asia, posing a significant threat to food security. Climate-smart agriculture has become crucial for the region's adaptation strategy, focusing on innovations to adapt agriculture to wild swings in climate extremes.
Climate change may trigger multiple outbreaks of invasive pests and diseases in Southeast Asia's cassava industry, posing a significant threat to smallholder farmers. The region's multi-billion dollar industry is heavily reliant on the crop for income, with Thailand alone accounting for over 60% of global exports.
Researchers and experts call for intensified global collaboration to develop effective new vaccines against tuberculosis. The blueprint outlines a path forward to create more effective, safe vaccines that can protect people from childhood TB, pulmonary TB, and latent TB.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants Aeras up to $220 million to develop safe and effective TB vaccines amid rising drug-resistant strains. The funding aims to accelerate global efforts to eliminate the airborne threat.
Women farmers produce a lower yield on their crops than male farmers by an average of 25 percent. A recent report shows differences in yield in the same household, with female farmers facing restrictions on access to labor and basic farm inputs.
The High Level Panel will discuss a 'nexus' approach to water management, planning projects with input from stakeholders in the food, water, and energy sectors. This approach aims to reduce conflicts between these sectors over dwindling water resources as global food and energy production intensify.
A new map highlights well-defined areas of high Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest, while low risk is found in the South. The study, which collected data from over 300 sites, emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and prevention to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Researchers call on scientists to provide clear data on how climate change impacts food security and suggest strategies for mitigation. They highlight the need for policy recommendations to encourage sustainable agricultural practices and prepare the global agriculture sector for climate change.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that internet-based news and Twitter feeds were faster at detecting the onset and progression of the cholera epidemic in post-earthquake Haiti. Researchers used HealthMap, an internet tool, to capture coverage and mentions of cholera from various sources.
Experts emphasize the need to treat multiple diseases simultaneously, as common in sub-Saharan Africa, for better outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Studies show that addressing co-infections can significantly reduce HIV transmission risk and viral load.
New research reveals that bed bugs can withstand high levels of inbreeding, allowing them to colonize and expand populations. This is a major contributing factor to the recent surge in infestations across the US and globally.
Fatal snakebites are a significant global health problem with up to 5 million cases annually, resulting in 300,000 permanent disabilities and 100,000 deaths. Research highlights the importance of addressing this issue through initiatives like motorcycle ambulances and rapid diagnostic tests.
A new map reveals substantial parts of South Asia and Latin America are home to a deadly form of malaria, Plasmodium vivax. Vivax is harder to detect and cure than falciparum malaria, with limited treatment options available.
New reports identify extreme vulnerability of Asia's mountainous Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to climate change, with rising temperatures disturbing the balance of snow, ice, and water. Glaciers are shrinking at a rate of 22 percent in Bhutan and 21 percent in Nepal over the past 30 years.
New research reveals a significant pattern of antibiotic overuse in the southeastern United States, with higher rates than other regions. The study highlights increased use of fluoroquinolones and declining market share for penicillins, which could accelerate resistance to these powerful drugs.
Climate change is expected to alter water flows in major river basins in Africa, posing a new challenge to food production and cross-border water conflicts. The Limpopo Basin, Nile Basin, and Volta Basin are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns.
Researchers have confirmed a rare incidence of individuals becoming infected with both seasonal and pandemic strains of the flu at the same time. Experts say this highlights the ongoing risk of distinct flu viruses combining in human hosts, particularly in Southeast Asia where avian influenza and pandemic H1N1 are prevalent.
A new insurance program is providing compensation to poor herders in northern Kenya's Marsabit District, who have lost up to a third of their animals due to drought. The program uses satellite images to track forage conditions and payouts are triggered when grazing lands deteriorate beyond 15 percent loss.
The Phase III trial of RTS,S, a malaria vaccine candidate, demonstrates significant protection against clinical and severe malaria in African children aged 5 to 17 months. The results show the vaccine can provide young African children with significant protection against malaria, with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile.
A new study documents the rapid adoption of fertilizer trees by smallholder farmers in southern Africa, leading to significant increases in maize yields and incomes. The approach has improved water efficiency and reduced soil erosion, offering a potential solution to food crises on the continent.
Scientists found that indoor spraying with bendiocarb dramatically reduced malaria transmission to near zero in Benin. The study's results provide reassurance that insecticides can still play a vital role in reducing the burden of malaria across Africa despite pyrethroid resistance.
Climate change threatens global food security, but new studies suggest that genetic traits in seeds and crop wild relatives can help. Developing heat-tolerant potato varieties could reduce climate-related damage by up to 65% of the world's potato crop.
A comprehensive study of Asia, Africa, and Latin America's major river basins finds that sufficient water exists to sustainably increase food production. Research suggests focusing on efficient use and rain-fed agriculture can generate two to three times more food.
A new LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) test has been designed specifically for sleeping sickness diagnosis in rural African settings. The test promises to improve diagnosis accuracy and reduce the need for repeated lumbar punctures, paving the way for potential elimination of the disease.
The report recommends making GME more publically accountable by engaging consumers in its design, moving to a competency-based system, and increasing diversity of training sites. This would ensure that physicians are trained to meet the needs of the public and make the system more efficient with public funds.
A study by ILRI found that investments aimed at increasing the mobility of livestock herders can help avert future food crises in arid lands. Herding makes better economic sense than crop agriculture in many regions, and supporting mobile communities can help people cope with droughts.
A radical overhaul of farming is proposed as a 'game-changer' for global food security. The new approach aims to enhance production and protect ecosystems by adopting agroecosystem practices that maintain clean water, air, and biodiversity.
A new study finds that large river discharges carrying nutrients contribute to increased phytoplankton blooms, which in turn lead to cholera outbreaks. The research analyzed data from four major river basins and suggests that predicting global warming's impact on cholera will be more complicated than initially thought.
Indonesia is paying a high price for failing to give local communities enforceable rights to contested forests, causing significant economic losses and deforestation. The country continues as an outlier in the region, with less than 1% of its forestland legally recognized under local control.
A new study found that ivermectin dramatically reduces malaria transmission among people living in Senegalese villages. Ivermectin was administered as part of a campaign to fight onchocerciasis and appeared to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes, resulting in a 79% decline in mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum.