Development of a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine: progress, challenges, and the path forward.

New interventions are needed to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with malaria, as well as to accelerate elimination and eventual eradication. Interventions that can break the cycle of parasite transmission, and prevent its reintroduction, will be of particular importance in achieving the eradication goal. In this regard, vaccines that interrupt malaria transmission (VIMT) have been highlighted as an important intervention, including transmission-blocking vaccines that prevent human-to-mosquito transmission by targeting the sexual, sporogonic, or mosquito stages of the parasite (SSM-VIMT).

STD program activity in state policy processes, 1995 and 2000.

Background: Generating state policy support for sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention is crucial; however, little is known about policy activity by STD programs.

Goals: The goals of the study were to identify state-level policy behaviors by state STD programs and to examine the association between policy behavior and selected state characteristics.

Study Design: Information was gathered through a survey of STD directors in 2001.