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Background Climate change is expected to alter the global footprint of many infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Knowledge of the range and geographical context of expected climate change impacts on disease transmission and spread, combined with knowledge of effective adaptation strategies and responses, can help to identify gaps and best practices to mitigate future health impacts. To investigate the types of evidence for impacts of climate change on two major mosquito-borne diseases of global health importance, malaria and dengue, and to identify the range of relevant policy responses and adaptation strategies that have been devised, we performed a scoping review of published review literature. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Epistemonikos) were systematically searched for relevant published reviews. Inclusion criteria were: reviews with a systematic search, from 2007 to 2020, in English or French, that addressed climate change impacts and/or adaptation strategies related to malaria and/or dengue. Data extracted included: characteristics of the article, type of review, disease(s) of focus, geographic focus, and nature of the evidence. The evidence was summarized to identify and compare regional evidence for climate change impacts and adaptation measures. Results A total of 32 reviews met the inclusion criteria. Evidence for the impacts of climate change (including climate variability) on dengue was greatest in the Southeast Asian region, while evidence for the impacts of climate change on malaria was greatest in the African region, particularly in highland areas. Few reviews explicitly addressed the implementation of adaptation strategies to address climate change-driven disease transmission, however suggested strategies included enhanced surveillance, early warning systems, predictive models and enhanced vector control. Conclusions There is strong evidence for the impacts of climate change, including climate variability, on the transmission and future spread of malaria and dengue, two of the most globally important vector-borne diseases. Further efforts are needed to develop multi-sectoral climate change adaptation strategies to enhance the capacity and resilience of health systems and communities, especially in regions with predicted climatic suitability for future emergence and re-emergence of malaria and dengue. This scoping review may serve as a useful precursor to inform future systematic reviews of the primary literature.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect populations in tropical regions, particularly low- and middle-income countries with limited economic and health resources. Mass drug administration (MDA) is a strategy for controlling and eliminating NTDs by treating entire at-risk populations to reduce parasite loads, interrupt transmission, and prevent reinfection. It is cost-effective, and promotes equity by reaching underserved communities. MDA is a critical approach to controlling and eliminating NTDs. Mobile populations in Africa such as nomadic groups and internally displaced persons, may lack access to MDA, which poses challenges to NTD elimination. This study aims to explore the influence of population mobility on the implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of MDA in Africa. This scoping review adheres to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. PCC (Population, Concept, Context) serves as the foundation for the study. Relevant papers published after 2000 will be identified through a comprehensive search of Medline Ovid, Embase, Web of Science, and gray literature. Studies addressing challenges to MDA in Africa's and related to mobile populations will be included. An Excel spreadsheet modified from the JBI will be used for data extraction and analysis. The results of this review will shed light on how MDA coverage is affected by the phenomenon of mobile and migrant populations and what effective approaches, if any, have been used to address this problem and improve overall population access to MDA.

Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is a basic human need for health and well-being. Yet, 2.2 billion people globally in 2022 did not have access to safely managed drinking water. Presently there are no publicly available methods for monitoring and measuring access to water sources in low-income settings at a fine spatial scale. The objective of this study was to map and identify areas with improved and unimproved water points in Misungwi, Tanzania using two different methods: 1) community mapping with direct field observations, and 2) drone imagery. We quantified and summarized the number of improved and unimproved water sources, as defined by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme core questions and noted their specific uses where applicable. We also compared the results of both data collection methods outlining their respective advantages and limitations. The community maps and direct field observations not only served as a method to identify water sources, but also provided insights into how community members used and interacted with each water source. In contrast, the drone imagery only served as a method to systematically identify water sources in the study area. A notable advantage of the drone imagery, however, was its ability to identify more unimproved water sources (225 vs 90) compared to the direct field observations. Both methods were effective in identifying water sources at a fine scale, but the drone imagery involved a more time-intensive process, demanded advanced skills, and incurred a higher cost compared to the community mapping with direct field observations. This study highlights the need for accurate and readily accessible data on water sources which is imperative for planning, developing, and managing improved water sources, especially in underserved areas such as Misungwi, Tanzania.

Malaria and schistosomiasis are two important parasitic diseases that are a particular threat to young children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control strategies primarily focus on the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets and the delivery of praziquantel tablets to at-risk populations in high burden settings through mass drug administration, respectively. The objective of this scoping review was to identify previous efforts to integrate malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control programs in the literature and to summarize the strategies and approaches used in these programs following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We reviewed published and grey literature using a combination of keywords and search terms following themes surrounding “malaria”, “ Plasmodium falciparum” , “ Anopheles ”, “schistosomiasis”, “ Schistosoma haematobium” , “ Schistosoma mansoni” , and “snails”. Neither a date limit nor relevant terms for prevention and control were used. Out of 6374, eight articles were included in the scoping review—three articles investigated the integration of mass drug administration for schistosomiasis with the administration of antimalarials, four articles investigated the effect of administering antimalarials on malaria, schistosomiasis, and their co-infection, and one article assessed the impact of an educational intervention on malaria and schistosomiasis knowledge and preventative behaviors. Our findings suggest that there is an opportunity to link disease control programs to increase access and coverage of interventions to improve outcomes for malaria, schistosomiasis, and their co-infection. Further research is needed on the potential benefits, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of integrating malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control programs.

Background This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of interventions which reduce human-tick encounters, prevent tick bites, and reduce the risk of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission, and to evaluate knowledge on the cost, environmental impact, social impact and acceptability, and public health impact of these interventions. Methods The search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Global Health, CAB Abstracts, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Econlit for relevant literature in March 2022 and was updated in November 2024 and followed PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. Inclusion was applied at citation and full text, after which articles were assessed for risk of bias and data was extracted by two independent reviewers. Studies were summarized by intervention type (landscape management, host animal parasitism and movement, chemical/natural/botanical applications, personal protection) and a multi-study synthesis of tick suppression effects was conducted for interventions that reported the density of infected nymphs as the primary outcome. Results One hundred and twenty-seven studies published between 1977 and 2024 were included in this systematic review. Most studies ( n  = 62) were classified as host-targeted interventions. Twenty-five studies were included in the multi-study synthesis of tick suppression effects, which suggested that chemical tick control methods are the most effective and consistent intervention type with 93.8% mean suppression of questing nymphs. Conclusion While some strategies such as chemical acaricides were shown to have greater effectiveness, factors such as social acceptability and resistance, environmental impact, cost, and feasibility should be considered when selecting the most appropriate intervention to maximize the utility of the intervention.

Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over a billion people globally. From 2020 to 2021, when this study was conducted, Mali remained endemic for multiple NTDs, including schistosomiasis and trachoma. At the time, significant efforts were underway to scale up control and elimination programs, although challenges persisted, particularly in reaching mobile populations such as nomads, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), with mass drug administration (MDA). These groups were often missed during campaigns, contributing to gaps in coverage and sustained transmission in certain areas. This study was designed to investigate the factors contributing to non-participation in schistosomiasis MDA among mobile populations in Mali, to inform strategies for more equitable and effective delivery. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults (18 + years) in two Malian health districts targeting nomads, migrants, and IDPs from March to July 2020. A multi-stage cluster sampling approach was used to select participants. Mobility was defined as temporary or permanent movement for livelihood (e.g., herding, mining) or due to displacement. Structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires were used, after development by the study team and pre-tested in a similar population. Questions focused on barriers to MDA access, mobility patterns, awareness about MDA, and logistical challenges. The main outcome was self-reported participation in the last MDA (i.e., taking praziquantel). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models. Results A total of 1067 participants were included in the study. All groups had MDA coverage rates below the recomended 75% threshold for schistosomiasis elimination. Only 40.8% of IDPs and 3.62% of migrants participated in the last MDA. The most reported reason for non-participation was a lack of information (64.5%). Lower income and occupations such as mining were significantly associated with non-participation ( p  < 0.001). Mixed-effects logistic regression showed that males were nearly three times more likely to miss MDA than females (aOR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.65–5.06). Participants facing accessibility barriers (e.g., long distances, physical limitations) were also more likely to miss MDA (aOR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.45–4.66). Nomads and transhumants were more likely to miss MDA compared to IDPs (aOR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.05–9.47). Conclusion These findings reveal notable disparities in MDA participation, influenced by mobility patterns, information access, and trust in health programs. Addressing these barriers requires context-specific approaches, such as improved communication, tailored MDA delivery, and greater community engagement. Strengthening these efforts is essential for equitable NTDs control and ensuring mobile populations are not left behind in schistosomiasis elimination efforts.

Currently, there is limited knowledge about socioeconomic, neighbourhood, and local ecological factors that contribute to the growing Lyme disease incidence in the province of Ontario, Canada. In this study, we sought to identify these factors that play an important role at the local scale, where people are encountering ticks in their communities. We used reported human Lyme disease case data and tick surveillance data submitted by the public from 2010–2017 to analyze trends in tick exposure, spatiotemporal clusters of infection using the spatial scan statistic and Local Moran’s I statistic, and socioecological risk factors for Lyme disease using a multivariable negative binomial regression model. Data were analyzed at the smallest geographic unit, consisting of 400–700 individuals, for which census data are disseminated in Canada. We found significant heterogeneity in tick exposure patterns based on location of residence, with 65.2% of Lyme disease patients from the city of Ottawa reporting tick exposures outside their health unit of residence, compared to 86.1%—98.1% of patients from other, largely rural, health units, reporting peri-domestic exposures. We detected eight spatiotemporal clusters of human Lyme disease incidence in eastern Ontario, overlapping with three clusters of Borrelia burgdorferi -infected ticks. When adjusting for population counts, Lyme disease case counts increased with larger numbers of Borrelia burgdorferi -infected ticks submitted by the public, higher proportion of treed landcover, lower neighbourhood walkability due to fewer intersections, dwellings, and points of interest, as well as with regions of higher residential instability and lower ethnic concentration (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.25, 1.02, 0.67–0.04, 1.34, and 0.57, respectively, p < .0001). Our study shows that there are regional differences in tick exposure patterns in eastern Ontario and that multiple socioecological factors contribute to Lyme disease risk in this region.

Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including but not limited to lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths, remain a major public health challenge in Africa. Mass drug administration (MDA) is a key strategy for NTD control and elimination. However, mobile populations such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), nomadic groups, and seasonal workers often face major constraints that reduce MDA effectiveness defined by coverage. Understanding how mobility and its underlying drivers affect MDA implementation is therefore critical to designing inclusive, effective, and equitable intervention strategies. In this review, we aim to map existing evidence on how human population movement influences the outcomes of MDA programs in Africa. Methods Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched using electronic databases Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, and manually screened additional sources for studies published in English or French between January 2000 and February 19, 2025. Two authors independently extracted data, resolving discrepancies through discussion, or with a third reviewer. We included studies reporting on MDA interventions and mobile or migrant populations in Africa. Data were extracted using a standardized template and synthesized thematically to describe mobility patterns, barriers to access, implementation gaps, and strategies used to improve MDA reach among mobile groups. The thematic synthesis consisted of organizing the extracted data into recurring themes, comparing trends across studies, and grouping similar observations to develop broader themes that reflect common challenges and approaches related to mobile populations. Results From 6814 studies identified, twenty (20) met the inclusion criteria. The review identified multiple challenges likely to affect MDA equity and effectiveness. Mobility, particularly among nomad pastoralists, seasonal workers, IDPs, and cross-border populations leads to systematic exclusion from MDA campaigns. Barriers included geographic inaccessibility, limited tailored communication, lack of cross-border collaboration/coordination, and rigid campaign schedules. Promising strategies documented were mobility-informed microplanning, cross-border collaboration/coordination, flexible delivery models, enhanced community engagement and integration with other health interventions. The evidence emphasizes the need for adaptive, equity-focused MDA approaches to effectively reach mobile populations. Conclusions Population mobility has a significant impact on equitable MDA delivery and can hinder progress toward NTD elimination targets in Africa. Tailored, flexible, and inclusive strategies are urgently needed to ensure mobile populations are reached. Future efforts should focus on developing mobility indicators, pilot-testing adaptive MDA delivery models aligned with movement patterns and strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries and humanitarian organizations.

•Equitable access to COVID-19 testing programs is crucial to controlling the pandemic.•There is a lack of consideration of equity in the design of infectious disease testing programs.•We recommend the use of specialized equity frameworks to inform the design of testing programs. This scoping review aimed to identify how equity has been considered in large-scale infectious disease testing initiatives. Large-scale testing interventions are instrumental for infectious disease control and a central tool for the coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. We searched Web of Science: core collection, Embase and Medline in June 2021 and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations for scoping reviews. We critically analyzed the content of all included articles. Our search resulted in 2448 studies of which 86 were included for data extraction after screening. Of the included articles, 80% reported on COVID-19 -related screening programs. None of the studies presented a formal definition of (in)equity in testing, however, 71 articles did indirectly include elements of equity through the justification of their target population. Of these 71 studies, 58% articles indirectly alluded to health equity according to the PROGRESS-Plus framework, an acronym used to identify a list of socially stratifying characteristics driving inequity in health outcomes. The studies included in our scoping review did not explicitly consider equity in their design or evaluation which is imperative for the success of infectious disease testing programs.

Malaria and schistosomiasis are two important parasitic diseases that are a particular threat to young children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control strategies primarily focus on the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets and the delivery of praziquantel tablets to at-risk populations in high burden settings through mass drug administration, respectively. The objective of this scoping review was to identify previous efforts to integrate malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control programs in the literature and to summarize the strategies and approaches used in these programs following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We reviewed published and grey literature using a combination of keywords and search terms following themes surrounding \"malaria\", \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"Anopheles\", \"schistosomiasis\", \"Schistosoma haematobium\", \"Schistosoma mansoni\", and \"snails\". Neither a date limit nor relevant terms for prevention and control were used. Out of 6374, eight articles were included in the scoping review-three articles investigated the integration of mass drug administration for schistosomiasis with the administration of antimalarials, four articles investigated the effect of administering antimalarials on malaria, schistosomiasis, and their co-infection, and one article assessed the impact of an educational intervention on malaria and schistosomiasis knowledge and preventative behaviors. Our findings suggest that there is an opportunity to link disease control programs to increase access and coverage of interventions to improve outcomes for malaria, schistosomiasis, and their co-infection. Further research is needed on the potential benefits, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of integrating malaria and schistosomiasis prevention and control programs.