title: Challenges and prospects for malaria elimination in the Southern Africa region.
abstract: The burden of malaria has decreased dramatically within the past several years in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including regions of Southern Africa. Important to effective regional malaria control in Southern Africa is the appreciation that the reductions in malaria have not been achieved uniformly, with some countries experiencing resurgence. Understanding the reasons for sustained low-level malaria transmission in the face of control efforts, why malaria control efforts have not been successful in particular epidemiological settings and the epidemiological and transmission patterns following resurgence are critical to improving further malaria control and possible elimination. The overall goal of the International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research in Southern Africa is to contribute to regional malaria control efforts that can be sustained beyond the duration of the project. This goal will be achieved through a combination of: (1) state-of-the-art research on malaria epidemiology, vector biology and the genetics of the malaria parasite in three different epidemiological settings; (2) collaborations with national malaria control programs to develop locally adapted and sustainable control strategies; and (3) training, career development and capacity building at research institutions throughout the region.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. wmoss@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Sungano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mharakurwa
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Modest
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulenga
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chipeta
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Thuma
mesh_terms: D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology*; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012621:Seasons