Despite efforts made over decades by the Peruvian government to eliminate malaria, Plasmodium vivax remains a challenge for public health decision-makers in the country. The uneven distribution of its incidence, plus its complex pattern of dispersion, has made ineffective control measures based on global information that lack the necessary detail to understand transmission fully. In this sense, population genetic tools can complement current surveillance. This study describes the genetic diversity and population structure from September 2012 to March 2015 in three geographically distant settlements, Cahuide (CAH), Lupuna (LUP) and Santa Emilia (STE), located in the Peruvian Amazon. A total 777 P. vivax mono-infections, out of 3264, were genotyped. Among study areas, LUP showed 19.7% of polyclonal infections, and its genetic diversity (Hexp) was 0.544. Temporal analysis showed a significant increment of polyclonal infections and Hexp, and the introduction and persistence of a new parasite population since March 2013. In STE, 40.1% of infections were polyclonal, with Hexp = 0.596. The presence of four genetic clusters without signals of clonal expansion and infections with lower parasite densities compared against the other two areas were also found. At least four parasite populations were present in CAH in 2012, where, after June 2014, malaria cases decreased from 213 to 61, concomitant with a decrease in polyclonal infections (from 0.286 to 0.18), and expectedly variable Hexp. Strong signals of gene flow were present in the study areas and wide geographic distribution of highly diverse parasite populations were found. This study suggests that movement of malaria parasites by human reservoirs connects geographically distant malaria transmission areas in the Peruvian Amazon. The maintenance of high levels of parasite genetic diversity through human mobility is a critical barrier to malaria elimination in this region.

This article addresses the intersection of the food system and public health from the community perspective, based on the work of the HOPE Collaborative in Oakland, California. The HOPE Collaborative initiated intensive community outreach and engagement as part of its planning process to address inequitable access to healthy food in Oakland's most vulnerable neighborhoods. This effort involved two levels of community assessment and an inquiry into the potential of addressing both healthy food access and poverty through the construction of local food enterprise networks. Many unanswered questions remain. However, it seems clear in that in order to reduce health disparities in Oakland's most vulnerable neighborhoods, the community must address inequities in both access to healthy food and access to economic opportunity.

COVID-19 pandemic has challenged public health systems worldwide, particularly affecting developing countries in Latin America like Ecuador. In this report, we exposed the fundamental role of the Ecuadorian universities to improve COVID-19 surveillance in the country, with an overall contribution over 15% of the total SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests done. We highlight the role of our university during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to a massive free SARS-CoV-2 testing up to almost 10% of the total diagnosis completed in the country, mainly focus on underserved urban, rural and indigenous communities. Finally, we described our contribution to a high quality and low-cost SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR diagnostic in Ecuador.

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ResumenEl objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la distribución y organización social del guanaco en la Reserva Nacional de Calipuy (RNC), La Libertad, Perú. Se reportaron 430 guanacos con ligera tendencia a la baja (b= -10.21), distribuidos en 114 km 2 . Los adultos fueron más numerosos con 73.5 %  (p<0.01), seguido de los juveniles y chulengos con 16.1% y 10.4% respectivamente. El 72 % de la población se encontró en grupos familiares, 18% en tropillas y los solitarios representaron el 10 %. La densidad fue de 5.7 individuos/km 2 . La población estuvo en su mayoría concentrada en la zona norte, sobre los 3000 msnm (p<0.01), que además es la más vigilada; alcanzando densidades de 18.9  8.97 guanacos/km 2 y albergando principalmente a grupos familiares. La zona occidental, bajo 3000 msnm y más cercana a la zona ganadera, obtuvo la densidad más baja de 0.24 0.24 guanacos/km 2 , y mantuvo principalmente a solitarios y grupos de machos.Palabras clave: Distribución, Organización social, Guanaco, Reserva Nacional de Calipuy AbstractThe objective of this research was to study the distribution and social structure of the guanaco in the Calipuy National Reserve (RNC), La Libertad, Peru. 430 guanacos were reported with a slight downward trend (b = -10.21), distributed in 114 km 2 . The adults were most numerous with 73.5%  9.8 (p<0.01) followed by juveniles and chulengos 16.1%  3.93 y 10.4  5.9 respectively. The 72% of the population was found in family groups, 18% in herds and solitary accounted for 10%. The density was 5.7 individuals per km 2 . The population was mostly concentrated in the north, above 3000 m (p <0. 01), which is also the most heavily fortified, reaching 18.9  8.97 guanacos/km 2 and family groups mainly houses. The western zone under 3000 m and closer to the breeding area, was the lowest density 0.24  0.24 guanacos/km 2 , and maintainedprimarily solitary and groups of males.