Tools to accelerate falciparum malaria elimination in Cambodia: A meeting report

Dysoley Lek, James J. Callery, Chea Nguon, Mark Debackere, Siv Sovannaroth, Rupam Tripura, Marius Wojnarski, Patrice Piola, Soy Ty Khean, Kylie Manion, Sokomar Nguon, Amber Kunkel, Lieven Vernaeve, Thomas J. Peto, Emily Dantzer, Chan Davoeung, William Etienne, Arjen M. Dondorp, Luciano Tuseo, Lorenz von SeidleinJean-Olivier Guintran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cambodia targets malaria elimination by 2025. Rapid elimination will depend on successfully identifying and clearing malaria foci linked to forests. Expanding and maintaining universal access to early diagnosis and effective treatment remains the key to malaria control and ultimately malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in the foreseeable future. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) holds some promise in the rapid reduction of Plasmodium falciparum infections, but requires considerable investment of resources and time to mobilize the target communities. Furthermore, the most practical drug regimen for MDA in the GMS-three rounds of DHA/piperaquine-has lost some of its efficacy. Mass screening and treatment benefits asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers by clearing chronic infections, but in its current form holds little promise for malaria elimination. Hopes that "highly sensitive" diagnostic tests would provide substantial advances in screen and treat programmes have been shown to be misplaced. To reduce the burden on P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections in people working in forested areas novel approaches to the use of malaria prophylaxis in forest workers should be explored. During an October 2019 workshop in Phnom Penh researchers and policymakers reviewed evidence of acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of interventions to target malaria foci and interrupt P. falciparum transmission and discussed operational requirements and conditions for programmatic implementation.
Original languageEnglish
Article number151
JournalMalaria journal
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2020

Keywords

  • Cambodia
  • Case detection
  • Forest malaria
  • Malaria elimination
  • Mass drug administration
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Prophylaxis
  • Screening and treatment

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