FUNDING ORGANIZATION	RESEARCH ORGANIZATION	PROGRAM	DIRECTOR	CITY	COUNTRY	ABSTRACT
	SIDA	ZANZIBAR MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAM	AIMING AT MALARIA ELIMINATION IN ZANZIBAR - A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.	BJÖRKMAN, ANDERS	ZANZIBAR	TANZANIA	View
The global malaria situation has improved in recent years with better preventive and curative tools, especially the ACTs as a response to increasing resistance to previous common drugs. Malaria elimination has been proposed as potential target even in high endemic areas. Our project in Zanzibar was first to demonstrate the general potential of the new tools when used on large scale. We want to pursue this further, also developing new surveillance methods and targeted control strategies. We have identified obstacles, e.g. *hot spot areas* and asymptomatic parasite carriers as possible transmission reservoirs. We want to study this with a microepidemiological approach and evaluate a novel *screen and treat* strategy. New surveillance tools, PCR and serology based, will be introduced including evaluation of new molecular (LAMP) field applicable diagnostic tool. Malaria vector studies and mathematical modeling of malaria transmission/elimination will be added. Monitoring drug efficacy is critical. We have been involved in developing new molecular markers and in vivo assessment methodology. These will now be applied in longitudinal studies to study any evolution of tolerance/resistance to the ACT in use since 2003. Our project is expected to provide an answer to today´s potential for malaria elimination and its constraints and technologies/strategies to overcome such constraints as a unique case study for future malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa.
	SIDA	ZANZIBAR MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAM	AIMING AT MALARIA ELIMINATION IN ZANZIBAR. A PILOT PROJECT FOR SUB SAHARAN AFRICA	MÅRTENSSON, ANDREAS	ZANZIBAR	TANZANIA	View
Zanzibar is the first region in Africa to implement integrated, free and widespread, high equitable coverage with artemisinin-combination therapies (ACT), insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying against falciparum malaria which resulted in marked reduced disease burden and crude child mortality. We now want to assess if sustained interventions can achieve malaria elimination and its further health impact. We will develop/assess new surveillance strategies incl. rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for case finding and targeting of ACT and epidemic alertness as well as a novel tool for detection of drug resistance based on our findings that parasite DNA can be extracted from RDTs and genotyped for established molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance. Our project provides unique research opportunities for feasibility/optimal strategies for malaria elimination in Africa.