Yes, the year has closed and so has the first decade of the 21st century. While many persons debate what to call this past decade - the one-ders, the double-Os, the M&M, the pre-teens, etc. - we reflect on more important things. Such as the top ten global health stories of the year (or, whichever stories we picked on a whim). A quick review:
Mosquito Sex Intervention Combats Malaria
Imperial College of London, published in PLoS Biology
After realizing that Anopheles gambiae only mate once in their lifetime, scientists decided to target the reproductive stage of these insects. When the male transfers sperm into the female, it is followed by a mass of protein and seminal fluid - known as a mating plug. This plug ensures that the sperm is stored correctly and is necessary for a successful fertilization. Scientists have ‘knocked-out’ a gene that controls for an enzyme involved in the synthesis of the mating plug. This discovery aims to control the population of malaria-spreading mosquitoes.
H1N1
No doubt that the spread of this influenza-like illness caught the attention of the world. Unlike other recent public-health threats like SARS or the bird-flu that only prevailed in the national conscious, the H1N1 virus appeared to penetrate itno communities and local populations. States called the virus a state-wide emergency and Obama follows with a declaration of a national emergency. 
After 120 million doses of the vaccine were promised in the United States, very few trickle in on time due to delays in production and quality-testing. Internationally, over 12,000 die and a CDC mid-level estimate of 47 million infected.
Nano Filter Created for Water Purification
A water-filter using nano-technology was released in India under the name Tata Swatch. Each filter is able to provide enough clean drinking water for a family of five for one year.
Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata holds a glass of water as he stands next to The Tata Swach water purifier during its launch in Mumbai, India, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. At about two feet tall, it may turn out to be the world's most compact revolution: The Tata Swach, launched Monday, is a water purifier priced for the masses, which India's Tata Group hopes will help save the lives of millions of people who die each year of waterborne diseases. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
No electricity, boiling water, or running water is necessary - just rice husk ash. This by-product of the rice industry acts as the framework on which silver particles mount and are able to kill bacteria. Tata Chemicals hopes to scale up production by 300% in the next 5 years and bring the technology to Africa.
AIDS Prevention Gel: FAIL
Not all news is good news. Once upon a time, there was hope that the microbicide, PR 20000, would be effective on HIV prevention. The largest study of its kind conducted by the British Medical Research Council followed 9,385 women from South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania for 4 years; results showed that 4.1% of the treatment group was infected as was 4.0% of the placebo group - no statistically significant difference. The microbicide, which acts by clumping around the virus before it reaches the vaginal wall, showed promising results in lab and animal-model trials.
The Spread of HIV/AIDS has Peaked
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organization
In other news… the spread of HIV/AIDS has begun to slow down. Since 1996, the rate of new HIV infections has dropped. By 2009, annual infection rates were down by 30% from 1996 figures. Additionally, AIDS related deaths have dropped nearly 10% since 2004. The director of UNAIDS points out that the majority of this decrease is due to HIV prevention programs (as opposed to treatment programs).
As Cancer Becomes More Treatable, Racial and Minority Disparities in Treatment Increase
Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at Columbia University Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention
Cancers like prostate and breast cancer have become much easier to detect and treat thanks to generous advancements in medical knowledge. Yet, these advancements are not equally felt between racial and ethnic divides. The authors of this study suggest that disparities increase as interventions improve survival because individuals of higher SES are more able to exploit medical advancements. Pancreatic and lung cancer - which are harder to detect and treat- often have little to none disparities between racial and economic class.
Motility Mechanism of Malaria Pathogens Discovered
Citation: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091223094736.htm
The molecular basis of malaria pathogen mobility has been unlocked. The pathway of these one-celled parasites from the salvitory gland of the mosquito to a human’s red blood cells has been a mystery until now. The parasite alternates between to modes of modulation; rapid gliding and adhesion to cell-surface complexes. The combination of both allows the parasite to move quickly and effectively over a long period of time. They adhere to the surface via the TRAP protein and use short actin filaments to drive themselves forward, called the ’slip-stick’ method. The consequences of this discovery are yet to be known.
Nigerian Campaign Against Guinea Worm Tentatively Declared a Success
Once the worst-afflicted country of Guinea worm in the world, Nigeria appears to have defeated the assault of this worm. At it’s peak, Nigeria had nearly 653,000 infections that cause prolonged suffering when the worm emerges through painful blisters and sometimes crippling after-effects. It has been over 12 months since a
A Woman Cleans in Muddled Waters - Once a Danger Zone for Guinea Worm. Citation: http://www.sustainlane.com/listingPhotos.do?listing=4Y23OZSJZMCB3NZTLW38H9CZMVYDℑ=38064
single case has been reported; the hesitation to publically celebrate this success derives from the WHO needing two more years to officially declare the guinea worm eradicated. The Carter Administration initiated eradication efforts nearly 20 years ago and is now looked upon as one of the penultimate public health successes. Only 4 countries now have the worms; Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Sudan.
Ebola Virus Vaccine Promising in Animal Models
The ebola virus is one of the most virulent viral disease known to man. 3 of the 5 distinct species of ebola virus have a mortality rate between 25-90% of all cases. Epidemics still occur today, usually in sporadic outbreaks and spread within a health-care setting. Soon, this virus may be a disease of the past. Researchers have developed a derivative of the ebola virus, which contains an essential gene knock-out. In the lab, mice inoculated with this derivative and then exposed to the virulent form of the ebola virus were protected. Scientists predict that this vaccine would most effectively protect health care personnel, laboratory works, and those at risk during outbreaks.
Uganda Announces Anti-Gay Legislation
While Uganda’s anti-gay legislation is more directly related to gay rights than to global health, there are significant consequences within the realm of HIV/AIDS. A Huffington Post blogger quotes that legislation would “undermine efforts to combat its HIV epidemic. It would be a tragedy in any country, but perhaps more so in a place with a record of leadership and success on HIV prevention.” Part of its previous success relies on the social marketing scheme promoting the use of a STI self-treatment kit, “Clear Seven,” which targeted the drivers of the spread of HIV - including homosexual men. The legislation would prevent public health officials from addressing some of pathways of HIV infection since any homosexual male or supporter of homosexuality would be prosecuted. Without knowledge of the drivers of HIV, implemented programs would not be effective because they would only part-way address the root of the problem. This story highlights how global health is not just scientifically or medically based but intersects with human rights issues as well.
