THE EDITORIAL NEWS

STUDY CITES  GENETIC VARIANT AS HIGH RISK FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN AFRICA By Alfonso Kasongo The first genome-wide association study on Parkinson’s disease in African populations has revealed a genetic variant that increases the risk of developing the disease. Parkinson's disease,a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors. Published in The Lancet Neurology, the study found a new genetic risk factor in GBA1 in people of African ancestry, which has not been seen studies on European populations. The authors say it could be a significant factor underlying Parkinson's disease in African populations.  The variant (Rs3115534-G) was found to be present in 39% of the cases assessed. In June 2022, Zambia recorded a mysterious movement disorder affecting about 27 pupils at Lunte Technical School in Lunte district of Northern. The condition appeared to be affecting the nervous system causing the patients to lose the firmness. Out of the af...

  KENYAN RESEARCHERS TAKE MALARIA GENOMIC RESEARCH INTO FIELD .....as half the world was at risk of malaria, with 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths reported in 2021 by WHO. By Alfonso Kasongo Researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya are moving genomic research from the laboratory into the field, by using molecular epidemiology as part of routine malaria surveillance to better understand and track mutations in parasites. The team aims to collect 300 blood spot samples from people in each of 14 Kenyan counties over the coming year, and establish a national data repository to inform policy decision-making for the National Malaria Programme. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Malaria Report 2022 shows that half the world was at risk of malaria, with 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths reported in 2021. Africa accounts for 96% of all malaria deaths. It is vital for health officials to understand how parasites mutate, and how to detect and vaccinat...