Human Alkhumra hemorrhagic Fever: Emergence, history and epidemiological and clinical profiles.

Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans. It is caused by Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV), a newly described flavivirus first isolated in 1995 in Alkhumra district, south of Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. It is transmitted from infected livestock animals to humans by direct contact with infected animals or by tick bites.

Malaria and blood transfusion: major issues of blood safety in malaria-endemic countries and strategies for mitigating the risk of Plasmodium parasites.

Malaria inflicts humankind over centuries, and it remains as a major threat to both clinical medicine and public health worldwide. Though hemotherapy is a life-sustaining modality, it continues to be a possible source of disease transmission. Hence, hemovigilance is a matter of grave concern in the malaria-prone third-world countries.

Larvicidal efficacy of Ethiopian ethnomedicinal plant Juniperus procera essential oil against Afrotropical malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

Objective: To screen the essential oil of Juniperus procera (J. procera) (Cupressaceae) for larvicidal activity against late third instar larvae of Anopheles arabiensis (An. arabiensis) Patton, the principle malaria vector in Ethiopia.

Malaria vaccine: a future hope to curtail the global malaria burden.

It has been estimated that nearly half of the world's population is at the risk of contracting malaria with sub Saharan Africa being the most risky area. The existing frontline malaria control interventions are not only expensive but also become ineffective owing to the emergence of insecticide and drug resistance. It calls for an innovative approach in terms of potential and reliable vaccine as an additional tool.

The counterfeit anti-malarial is a crime against humanity: a systematic review of the scientific evidence.

Background: The counterfeiting of anti-malarials represents a form of attack on global public health in which fake and substandard anti-malarials serve as de facto weapons of mass destruction, particularly in resource-constrained endemic settings, where malaria causes nearly 660,000 preventable deaths and threatens millions of lives annually. It has been estimated that fake anti-malarials contribute to nearly 450,000 preventable deaths every year. This crime against humanity is often underestimated or ignored.

Insect repellent plants traditional usage practices in the Ethiopian malaria epidemic-prone setting: an ethnobotanical survey.

Background: The usage of insect repellent plants (IRPs) is one of the centuries-old practices in Africa. In Ethiopia, malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, subsequently the majority of people have a tendency to apply various plants as repellents to reduce or interrupt the biting activity of insects. Accordingly, this survey was undertaken to document and evaluate knowledge and usage practices of the local inhabitants on IRPs in the malaria epidemic-prone setting of Ethiopia.

Tungiasis: a neglected epidermal parasitic skin disease of marginalized populations--a call for global science and policy.

Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is an ectoparasitic skin disease caused by the female sand flea/jigger flea (Tunga penetrans). As poverty is the major driving force of the disease, it can be called as a poverty-associated plague. It is one of the emerging neglected diseases in Latin America, Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and India.

Role of traditional antimalarial plants in the battle against the global malaria burden.

Malaria continues to be a major global public health problem with 3.3 billion people at risk in 106 endemic countries. Globally, over 1000 plants have been used as potential antimalarials in resource-poor settings due to fragile health-care systems and lack of accessibility and affordability of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

Knowledge and practices of farmers with reference to pesticide management: implications on human health.

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of Ethiopian farmers about pesticide management: implications for human health. A pretested standardized questionnaire was administered. The results revealed that the great majority 174 (99.

Ethnomedicinal knowledge, belief and self-reported practice of local inhabitants on traditional antimalarial plants and phytotherapy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: This paper reveals the trend of knowledge and practice of traditional antimalarial plants (TAPs) to prevent/treat malaria.

Materials And Methods: Stratified, systematic random sampling was adopted. The ethnomedicinal survey was conducted between January and March 2011 by involving the selected 371 household members on knowledge and practice of TAPs by administering a pre-tested questionnaire.

Knowledge and self-reported practice of the local inhabitants on traditional insect repellent plants in Western Hararghe zone, Ethiopia.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: This paper reveals the trend of knowledge and self-reported practice of traditional insect repellent plants (TIRPs) and could serve as a baseline data to identify/formulate novel plant-based insect repellents in the near future.

Aim Of The Study: Insect repellent plants usage is a long-standing and age old tradition. Thus, the major objective of this survey was to assess the knowledge and self-reported practice of the local inhabitants on TIRPs in Western Hararghe zone, Ethiopia.

Examining household possession and willingness to pay for the retreatment of ITNs with insecticides among local residences in a malaria endemic area.

Objective: To examine the household possession and willingness to pay for the retreatment of ITNs with insecticides among local residences in a malaria endemic area of Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2008 and December 2008 using a pre-tested questionnaire in Azendabo town, Ethiopia. 246 household members were interviewed on the household possession and willingness to pay for the retreatment of ITNs with insecticides.

Peasant association member's knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards safe use of pesticide management.

Background: Farmers in the developing world are at risk of pesticide exposure, particularly in low-income countries with a sizable agricultural sector like Ethiopia. The present investigation provides baseline data to develop strategies for the control of pesticide exposure and the prevention of pesticide poisoning.

Methods: A questionnaire survey of a stratified random sample of peasant farmers belonging to peasant associations was conducted.

Laboratory evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellent against the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae).

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the repellent efficacy of a methanol-leaf extract of Ethiopian traditionally used insect repellent plant viz., Lomi sar [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (Poaceae)] against Anopheles arabiensis at four different concentrations viz.

Knowledge and beliefs about onchocerciasis among rural inhabitants in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and beliefs about causes, transmission, prevention and control of onchocerciasis among rural inhabitants in an endemic area of Ethiopia. Descriptive and quantitative information was collected using focus group discussions and a pretested structured questionnaire. Onchocerciasis affected and unaffected respondents' knowledge and beliefs regarding onchocerciasis were compared.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of local inhabitants about insecticide treated nets (ITNs) for malaria control in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of local residents about insecticide treated nets (ITNs) for malaria control in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive cross-survey was conducted from July 2008 to September 2008. A structured questionnaire collecting sociodemographic, ITNs and malaria-related KAP information was administered to the representatives of households.

Relative efficacy of repellent-treated wristbands against three major mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors of disease, under laboratory conditions.

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the relative efficacy of N-N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)- and N,N-diethyl phenylacetamide (DEPA)-treated wristbands against three major vector mosquitoes viz., Anopheles stephensi Liston, Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Aedes aegypti (L.), at two different concentrations viz.

Ethnobotanical survey of knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants among the Ethiopian Oromo ethnic group.

Aim Of The Study: Repellent plants usage is an integral part of Ethiopian tradition and has been practiced over many centuries. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants among the Oromo ethnic group in Ethiopia.

Materials And Methods: The ethnobotanical survey was conducted between January and March 2009.

Field trials on the efficacy of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips against mosquito vectors of disease.

A field trial was undertaken in order to determine the efficacy of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips against mosquito vectors of disease. The present study was conducted in the urban locality of Pondicherry, India. Human test subjects were exposed to natural populations of mosquitoes for a 12 h (18.

Prevalence of malaria from peripheral blood smears examination: a 1-year retrospective study from the Serbo Health Center, Kersa Woreda, Ethiopia.

Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Over the past years, the disease has been consistently reported as the first leading cause of outpatient visits, hospitalization and death in health facilities across the country. Thus, a retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria from peripheral blood smear examination from the Serbo Health Center of Ethiopia.

Assessment of knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants in Addis Zemen Town, South Gonder, North Western Ethiopia.

Aim Of The Study: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to assess the knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquitoes repellent plants among the inhabitants in Addis Zemen Town, Ethiopia.

Materials And Methods: Stratified, systematic random sampling was used for selection of 393 households from the total of 5161 households. One adult from each household was interviewed.

Evaluation of leaf extracts of Vitex negundo L. (Family: Verbenaceae) against larvae of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and repellent activity on adult vector mosquitoes.

Petroleum ether (60-80 degrees C) extracts of the leaves of Vitex negundo (Verbenaceae) were evaluated for larvicidal activity against larval stages of Culex tritaeniorhynchus in the laboratory. Larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus were found more susceptible, with LC(50) and LC(90) values of 2.

Laboratory evaluation of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants against Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant malaria vector in Ethiopia.

Laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the repellent efficiency of most commonly known four traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants Wogert [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Silene macroserene], Kebercho [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Echinops sp.], Tinjut [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Ostostegia integrifolia], and Woira[vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Olea europaea] against Anopheles arabiensis under the laboratory conditions. One hundred (4-5 days old) female A.