Concerted action key to achieving malaria-free future
Malaria remains a pressing public health concern, with 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths reported worldwide in 2022. The Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted through mosquito bites, has proven difficult to combat due to its complex nature, drug resistance, and challenges in vector control. Surveillance and diagnostic shortfalls further exacerbate the issue, allowing the disease to proliferate. Nonetheless, the World Health Organization has recognized 44 countries and territories as malaria-free, owing to their successful elimination strategies.
In the research arena, Brandon Wilder, Ph.D., an immunologist at Oregon Health & Science University, leads efforts to develop new prevention and treatment methods for malaria. His work includes breeding up to 200,000 mosquitoes to study the Plasmodium parasite and working on a multivalent vaccine targeting different stages of the parasite's life cycle. His interdisciplinary collaborations extend to the Oregon National Primate Center and the OHSU School of Medicine's Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Wilder's innovative approach to vaccine development is supported by grants from entities like the Gates Foundation and the Hypothesis Fund, which endorses pioneering health and climate research.
Complementing these scientific efforts, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) PAMO Plus project, in partnership with the Zambian government and implemented by PATH, is focused on safeguarding pregnant women from malaria. The project educates Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs) to disseminate information on preventive treatments and distribute insecticide-treated bed nets. These community-based health advocates play a crucial role in steering complicated cases to health centers, thereby promoting healthy pregnancies and enhancing maternal health outcomes.
