Evidence for a role of Anopheles stephensi in the spread of drug- and diagnosis-resistant malaria in Africa

Anopheles stephensi, an Asian malaria vector, continues to expand across Africa. The vector is now firmly established in urban settings in the Horn of Africa. Its presence in areas where malaria resurged suggested a possible role in causing malaria outbreaks. Here, using a prospective case-control design, we investigated the role of An. stephensi in transmission following a malaria outbreak in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia in April-July 2022. Screening contacts of patients with malaria and febrile controls revealed spatial clustering of Plasmodium falciparum infections around patients with malaria in strong association with the presence of An. stephensi in the household vicinity. Plasmodium sporozoites were detected in these mosquitoes. This outbreak involved clonal propagation of parasites with molecular signatures of artemisinin and diagnostic resistance. To our knowledge, this study provides the strongest evidence so far for a role of An. stephensi in driving an urban malaria outbreak in Africa, highlighting the major public health threat posed by this fast-spreading mosquito

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Malnutrition among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Addi Harush Eritrean Refugees Camp, Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

Malnutrition is a serious medical condition marked by a deficiency of energy, essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals in a diet. In Refugee situations where the population is often extremely dependent on the humanitarian assistance and food aid; the value of the food is greatly determine their nutritional status. That is why under nutrition is a critical public health problem among refugee children aged 6-59 months. Institutional based cross- sectional study was conducted from March to June, 2015 in Addi Harush Refugee camp, Northern Ethiopia. The data was collected using interview administered questioners, observational and Anthropometric measurement. Among the total of 372 planed participants 367 of them were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 98.7%. This had identified 69 (18.80%) of stunting and 36 (9.81%) of wasting. Children who fed exclusive breast feeding for the duration of six months were 0.04 times less likely to be wasted. Children, those who used bottle feeding were 6.067 times more likely to be affected with acute malnutrition (wasting). Children who had been vaccinated with BCG were 0.037 times less likely to be wasted. While generally immunized children were 0.013 times less likely to be wasted and 0.054 times less likely to be stunted. Both stunting and wasting are remaining public health nutrition problem in the refugee. Wasting is observed to be affected by immunization practice behavior, duration of exclusive breast feeding, BCG vaccination and bottle feeding. Stunting is observed to be affected by hand washing practice before serving food and immunization practice behaving. Bottle feeding should be avoided, Exclusive breast feeding till six months should be strengthen, Child immunization should be encouraged more than the current and Awareness towards cause and prevention of stunting and wasting should be increased at a refugee communities level

Dairy Producers’ Market Participation Decision and Volume of Milk Supply in Mekelle City, Ethiopia

This study was intended to examine dairy producers’ market participation decision and volume of milk supply. Cross-sectional data was obtained from 220 sample households and analyzed using Heckman selection model. Heckman first-stage model result shows that age of household head, access to market information, access to extension service, contract agreement and accessibility of animal feed was positively determined dairy producers’ milk sale decision. Heckman second-stage model result shows that access to market information, market price, accessibility of animal feed and family size was positively determined volume of milk supply, whereas religion determined negatively. This implies that dairy producers capacity building, improving information delivery system and strengthen extension service are an optional solution to improve milk production and market supply decision

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Malnutrition among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Addi Harush Eritrean Refugees Camp, Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

Malnutrition is a serious medical condition marked by a deficiency of energy, essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals in a diet. In Refugee situations where the population is often extremely dependent on the humanitarian assistance and food aid; the value of the food is greatly determine their nutritional status. That is why under nutrition is a critical public health problem among refugee children aged 6-59 months. Institutional based cross- sectional study was conducted from March to June, 2015 in Addi Harush Refugee camp, Northern Ethiopia. The data was collected using interview administered questioners, observational and Anthropometric measurement. Among the total of 372 planed participants 367 of them were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 98.7%. This had identified 69 (18.80%) of stunting and 36 (9.81%) of wasting. Children who fed exclusive breast feeding for the duration of six months were 0.04 times less likely to be wasted. Children, those who used bottle feeding were 6.067 times more likely to be affected with acute malnutrition (wasting). Children who had been vaccinated with BCG were 0.037 times less likely to be wasted. While generally immunized children were 0.013 times less likely to be wasted and 0.054 times less likely to be stunted. Both stunting and wasting are remaining public health nutrition problem in the refugee. Wasting is observed to be affected by immunization practice behavior, duration of exclusive breast feeding, BCG vaccination and bottle feeding. Stunting is observed to be affected by hand washing practice before serving food and immunization practice behaving. Bottle feeding should be avoided, Exclusive breast feeding till six months should be strengthen, Child immunization should be encouraged more than the current and Awareness towards cause and prevention of stunting and wasting should be increased at a refugee communities level

Evidence for a role of Anopheles stephensi in the spread of drug- and diagnosis-resistant malaria in Africa.

Anopheles stephensi, an Asian malaria vector, continues to expand across Africa. The vector is now firmly established in urban settings in the Horn of Africa. Its presence in areas where malaria resurged suggested a possible role in causing malaria outbreaks. Here, using a prospective case-control design, we investigated the role of An. stephensi in transmission following a malaria outbreak in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia in April-July 2022. Screening contacts of patients with malaria and febrile controls revealed spatial clustering of Plasmodium falciparum infections around patients with malaria in strong association with the presence of An. stephensi in the household vicinity. Plasmodium sporozoites were detected in these mosquitoes. This outbreak involved clonal propagation of parasites with molecular signatures of artemisinin and diagnostic resistance. To our knowledge, this study provides the strongest evidence so far for a role of An. stephensi in driving an urban malaria outbreak in Africa, highlighting the major public health threat posed by this fast-spreading mosquito

Evidence for a role of Anopheles stephensi in the spread of drug and diagnosis-resistant malaria in Africa

Anopheles stephensi, an Asian malaria vector, continues to expand across Africa. The vector is now firmly established in urban settings in the Horn of Africa. Its presence in areas where malaria resurged suggested a possible role in causing malaria outbreaks. Using a prospective case control design, we investigated the role of An. stephensi in transmission following a malaria outbreak in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia in April-July 2022. Screening contacts of malaria patients and febrile controls revealed spatial clustering of P. falciparum infections around malaria patients in strong association with An. stephensi presence in the household vicinity. Plasmodium sporozoites were detected in these mosquitoes. This outbreak involved clonal propagation of parasites with molecular signatures of artemisinin and diagnostic resistance. This study provides the strongest evidence to date for a role of An. stephensi in driving an urban malaria outbreak in Africa, highlighting the major public health threat this fast-spreading mosquito poses