The costs and logistics of distributing 'forest packs' containing novel vector control tools to forest-exposed populations in Cambodia.

Background: Malaria incidence in the Greater Mekong Subregion has been on the decline, and most remaining malaria risk in the region is concentrated among hard-to-reach populations, especially those with exposure to forested areas. New vector control tools focused on outdoor protection in forest settings are needed for these populations.

Methods: The delivery of a 'forest pack' containing a volatile pyrethroid spatial repellent (VPSR), a topical repellent, and pyrethroid treatment of clothing was evaluated in an operational study in Cambodia.

Willingness to pay for a mosquito bite prevention 'forest pack' in Cambodia: results of a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Progress towards malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion has left much of the residual malaria transmission concentrated among forest-exposed populations for whom traditional domicile focused malaria vector control is unlikely to be effective. New tools to protect these populations from vector biting outdoors are needed.

Methods: Alongside implementation research on the deployment of a "forest pack" consisting of a volatile pyrethroid (transfluthrin)-based spatial repellent (VPSR), a picaridin-based topical repellent and etofenprox treatment of clothing, an assessment was made of participant willingness to pay for the forest packs and variants of the packs using a discrete choice experiment.

Impact of nighttime human behavior on exposure to malaria vectors and effectiveness of using long-lasting insecticidal nets in the Ethiopian lowlands and highlands.

Background: Ethiopia continues to grapple with a persistent malaria burden, characterized by ongoing transmission and recurrent outbreaks. Human behavior influences both malaria exposure and the effectiveness of vector interventions, complicating malaria control efforts. Implementing tailored strategies that account for the complex interplay between human activities and vector behavior remains a challenge in both high- and low-transmission areas in Ethiopia, particularly for vulnerable highland populations and temporary labor migrants, due to lack of data.

The effect of novel mosquito bite prevention tools on Anopheles minimus landing and key secondary endpoints: semi-field evaluations in Thailand.

Background: The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) aims to eliminate all human malaria by 2030 and is making substantial progress toward this goal, with malaria increasingly confined to forest foci. These transmission foci are predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, local populations, and rural mobile and migrant populations working in mining and agriculture. The recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on malaria elimination states that small population groups which constitute a large proportion of the malaria transmission reservoir should benefit from targeted strategies to reduce transmission overall.

Facile preparation of solid gelatin foams by a water-lean batch foaming process.

Existing polystyrenic and polyolefinic packaging foams are non-biodegradable, and persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Gelatin foams are an interesting alternative, given their biodegradability, biocompatibility, solution-based processability, low cost, and non-toxicity. However, current methods for preparing gelatin foams, such as freeze-drying, microfluidic foaming, and batch foaming, are not suitable for high-volume production.