Fresh Off The Journal: April 2026

Medicines for neglected tropical diseases remain difficult to access in Europe, even when essential or life-saving. One example is praziquantel, a medicine used to treat schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm disease that affects travelers and migrants. Clinicians often have to rely on temporary fixes, such as donations or case-by-case imports. Such solutions are unsustainable and carry risks for affordability and quality. This viewpoint argues that Europe needs a more coordinated approach to make quality-assured medicines available and affordable, especially as travel and climate change may increase the presence of these diseases. 

Researchers from ITM’s Department of Public Health and partners in Zambia and Zimbabwe used national survey data to study how often adolescents and adults self-reported diagnosis and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections between 2005 and 2018. The number of reported infections were higher in Zimbabwe than in Zambia. In Zambia, reports increased among adolescent boys and men, while in Zimbabwe they decreased among adolescent girls and women, showing the need for more tailored prevention, testing and treatment. 

In north-central Vietnam, where fascioliasis is considered an emerging zoonotic disease, researchers carried out the first study investigating all major compartments involved in the parasite’s life:  humans, cattle, buffaloes, freshwater snails and edible aquatic plants. The study found very high infection rates in cattle and buffaloes, especially older animals, while human infections were rare and no parasites were detected in sampled snails or plants. The study provides new insights into how liver fluke transmission occurs in rural communities in Vietnam. It also highlights the need for livestock treatment programs and targeted health education for animal owners.

Quang, V. H., Levecke, B., Do Trung, D., Lam, B. V. T., Hien, N. T. T., Ha, N. N., ... & Dermauw, V. (2026). Prevalence and risk factors related to Fasciola spp. transmission in north-Central Vietnam: A cross-sectional study in multiple host and environmental compartments. One Health, 101417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101417

In the Peruvian Amazon, some Plasmodium falciparum parasites lack genes detected by the most commonly used rapid malaria tests, causing infections to go undetected. This study shows that these strains became more common after control efforts reduced overall parasite diversity. Rather than being directly “favoured,” they spread by chance as the parasite population shrank and then expanded again. The findings highlight current diagnostic challenges on the path to malaria control and elimination, and underline the need for ongoing monitoring.

Figueroa-Ildefonso, E., Cabrera-Sosa, L., Kattenberg, J.H., Valdivia, H.O., Delgado-Ratto, C., Rosanas-Urgell, A., Gamboa, D. (2026). Parasite population dynamics shaped P. falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletion expansion in the Peruvian Amazon. Sci Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-48246-3