The “Paired Learning by Doing” Approach for Capacity Building Derived from the China-UK-Tanzania Pilot Project on Malaria Control During 2015–2018

China’s growing prosperity has led to an increased role in international affairs,particularly in global health cooperation.Alongside sending medical teams abroad,China’s health authority is gradually expanding its South-South cooperation in public health.However,due to a late start in global health initiatives and limited experience in organizing,coordinating,and implementing intervention projects overseas,China still faces significant challenges in global health,particularly in the local context.Recognizing the longstanding partnership between the Chinese and British governments,they have identified global health as a new area of strategic cooperation.In 2012,the former UK Department for International Development(DFID)initiated a new type of health development cooperation project named the China-UK Global Health Support Programme(GHSP).

Visceral Leishmaniasis--China,2015−2019

What is already known about this topic?Visceral leishmaniasis(VL)is an important vectorborne disease in rural areas of western China.The spreading of VL made its prevention and control become more complicated.What is added by this report?The number of VL cases decreased from 2015(n=498)to 2019(n=166).However,the mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis(MT-ZVL)cases increased from 2015(n=82,16.5%)to 2019(n=122,73.5%).In addition,both number and proportion of imported cases increased from 2015(n=18,3.6%)to 2019(n=41,24.7%).The re-emergence of MT-ZVL was considerable;13 historically-endemic counties reported 48 indigenous cases.Infants and young children were the high risk population of VL(848,62.4%)followed by farmers(303,22.3%).What are the implications for public health practice?Both MT-ZVL and imported cases showed an increasing trend in China.Therefore,two actions are needed to control VL:1)to prevent re-emergence and spreading of MT-ZVL;and 2)to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment to avoid fatal VL cases,especially in non-endemic areas.

Transmission Risks of Mountain-Type Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis—Six Endemic Provincial-Level Administrative Divisions,China,2015–2020

Summary What is already known about this topic?Mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis(MTZVL)cases in China have increased significantly between 2015 and 2020.A total of 25 regions had reemerged yielding 88 MT-ZVL indigenous cases,while the total number of visceral leishmaniasis cases declined.What is added by this report?The transmission risk of MT-ZVL showed a trend of patchy dissemination centered on major endemic areas and medium-high risk occurrence areas of Phlebotomus chinensis with discrete foci.Multi-point re-emergence and local outbreaks of MT-ZVL were trending in historically endemic areas.What are the implications for public health practice?Risk identification and early warnings of MT-ZVL are essential in formulating precise prevention and control strategies in China.More frequent monitoring,establishing a mechanism of joint prevention and control,and highlighting health education are recommended.

Establishment of an indicator framework for the transmission risk of the mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis based on the Delphi-entropy weight method

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Although VL was controlled in several regions of China during the last century, the mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL) has reemerged in the hilly areas of China in recent decades. The purpose of this study was to construct an indicator framework for assessing the risk of the MT-ZVL in China, and to provide guidance for preventing disease.Methods: Based on a literature review and expert interview, a 3-level indicator framework was initially established in November 2021, and 28 experts were selected to perform two rounds of consultation using the Delphi method. The comprehensive weight of the tertiary indicators was determined by the Delphi and the entropy weight methods.Results: Two rounds of Delphi consultation were conducted. Four primary indicators, 11 secondary indicators, and 35 tertiary indicators were identified. The Delphi-entropy weight method was performed to calculate the comprehensive weight of the tertiary indicators. The normalized weights of the primary indicators were 0.268, 0.261, 0.242, and 0.229, respectively, for biological factors, interventions, environmental factors, and social factors. The normalized weights of the top four secondary indicators were 0.122, 0.120, 0.098, and 0.096, respectively, for climatic features, geographical features, sandflies, and dogs. Among the tertiary indicators, the top four normalized comprehensive weights were the population density of sandflies (0.076), topography (0.057), the population density of dogs, including tethering (0.056), and use of bed nets or other protective measures (0.056).Conclusions: An indicator framework of transmission risk assessment for MT-ZVL was established using the Delphientropy weight method. The framework provides a practical tool to evaluate transmission risk in endemic areas.

Distribution of Suitable Environments for Phlebotomus chinensis as the Vector for Mountain-Type Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis-Six Provinces, China

Summary What is already known on this topic?Phlebotomus chinensis(P.chinensis)is a sandfly and the main vector of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis(MT-ZVL)in China.However,the distribution of suitable environments for the vector has not been studied yet.

China-UK-Tanzania Pilot Project on Malaria Control

The China-UK-Tanzania Pilot Project on Malaria Control supported by the China-UK Global Health Support Programme and funded by the UK Department for International Development(DFID)is the first pilot project of its kind for the Chinese government in Africa.The encouraging results of this pilot project demonstrated that the malaria burden could be reduced by 81%(1)when China’s experience with malaria control was shared in Tanzania through interactions between health officials from China and Tanzania.

Surveillance Progress for Crucial Vector-Borne Parasitic Diseases in China

China has achieved significant progress in controlling parasitic diseases through extensive campaigns over the last seven decades.In 2015,the criteria for schistosomiasis transmission control were met nationwide(1),and no indigenous malaria cases have been reported in China since 2017(2).Moreover,the number of areas with endemic visceral leishmaniasis has been markedly reduced from 16 to 7 provincial-level administrative divisions(PLADs)(3).