Monthly Archives: September 2018

Precision Mapping-Tackling a major obstacle on the road towards the elimination of schistosomiasis

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Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people, yet it is a highly focal disease, with the likelihood of re-infection necessitating regular treatment of at-risk populations. Mapping methods that do not take into account the focal nature of it’s distribution can lead to at-risk communities not being treated or over-treating communities that do not need it. This causes several issues, from wasted medicines and resources to treatment fatigue and non-compliance (where communities refuse to take donated medicines). The answer could be a refined, higher resolution, dynamic mapping system, i.e. Precision mapping!

Biology Developing World Health Medicine

One Health and the community – interview with Professor Esron Karimuribo

esron

Community is central to the One Health concept. In a two part interview, we talk to Professor Esron Karimuribo from the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases (SACIDS) about working with communities in disease surveillance. In this first part, Esron introduces us to SACIDS and his role within the organisation liaising with communities on One Health projects. On Tuesday, he will discuss AfyaData, a community-based surveillance project.

Biology Developing World Health Medicine Uncategorised

Mind altering microbes: can Toxoplasma gondii infection increase entrepreneurship?

nature-3225533_1280

Toxoplasma gondii infection is thought to alter the personalities of infected individuals (whether rats or humans) by increasing risk-taking behaviors. Studies have shown that this can lead to more accidents, but on the flip side Stefanie Johnson and colleagues recently showed that this risk taking tendency can lead to increased entrepreneurial behaviors. However, before we start infecting ourselves with the parasite, be warned that increased entrepreneurial-type behavior does not necessarily result in successful businesses or wealth.

Biology Health