Prof. Dr. Manuel Hetzel

Prof. Manuel Hetzel is an infectious disease epidemiologist, Research Group Leader and Head of the Health Interventions Unit at the Swiss TPH, and adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Basel. His main areas of expertise are epidemiological field studies, multidisciplinary implementation research, and impact evaluations, with a focus on malaria.

Dr. Hetzel’s current work includes investigating and improving the effectiveness of malaria control measures, such as vector control, case management, and targeted surveillance-response strategies, implemented in different health systems settings. He recently co-led an assessment of the effectiveness of rectal artesunate as pre-referral treatment of severe malaria in children in rural DR Congo, Nigeria and Uganda and conducted studies on the effectiveness of malaria reactive case detection in Zanzibar (Tanzania). Since 2008, he has been supporting the National Malaria Control Programme in Papua New Guinea with research and capacity strengthening activities.

Dr. Hetzel holds an MSc in biology and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Basel after studies in Switzerland and Brazil. He held previous appointments at the Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania), the PNG Institute of Medical Research (Papua New Guinea), the University of Queensland (Australia), and the University of Cape Town (South Africa).

Das A.M, Hetzel M.W, Yukich J.O, Stuck L, Fakih B.S, Al-mafazy A.H, Ali A, Chitnis N. Modelling the impact of interventions on imported, introduced and indigenous malaria infections in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Nat Commun. 2023;14:2750. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38379-8

Fakih B.S, Holzschuh A, Ross A, Stuck L, Abdul R, Al-mafazy A.H, Irema I, Mbena A, Thawer S.G, Shija S.J, Aliy S.M, Ali A, Fink G, Yukich J, Hetzel M.W. Risk of imported malaria infections in Zanzibar: a cross-sectional study. Infect Dis Poverty. 2023;12:80. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01129-5

Golumbeanu M, Edi C.A.V, Hetzel M.W, Koepfli C, Nsanzabana C. Bridging the gap from molecular surveillance to programmatic decisions for malaria control and elimination. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023(in press). DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0749

Hetzel M.W, Awor P, Tshefu A, Omoluabi E, Burri C, Signorell A, Lambiris M.J, Visser T, Cohen J.M, Buj V, Lengeler C. Pre-referral rectal artesunate: no cure for unhealthy systems. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023;23(6):e213-e217. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00762-9

Hetzel M.W, Okitawutshu J, Tshefu A, Omoluabi E, Awor P, Signorell A, Kwiatkowski M, Lambiris M.J, Visser T, Cohen J.M, Buj V, Burri C, Lengeler C. Pre-referral rectal artesunate is no "magic bullet" in weak health systems. BMC Med. 2023;21:119. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02777-y

Lambiris M.J, Venga G.N, Ssempala R, Balogun V, Galactionova K, Musiitwa M, Kagwire F, Olosunde O, Emedo E, Luketa S, Sangare M, Buj V, Delvento G, Tshefu A, Okitawutshu J, Omoluabi E, Awor P, Signorell A, Hetzel M.W, Lee T.T, Brunner N.C, Cereghetti N, Visser T, Napier H.G, Burri C, Lengeler C. Health system readiness and the implementation of rectal artesunate for severe malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of real-world costs and constraints. Lancet Glob Health. 2023;11(2):e256-e264. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00507-1

Signorell A, Awor P, Okitawutshu J, Tshefu A, Omoluabi E, Hetzel M.W, Athieno P, Kimera J, Tumukunde G, Angiro I, Kalenga J.C, Akano B.K, Ayodeji K, Okon C, Yusuf O, Delvento G, Lee T.T, Brunner N.C, Lambiris M.J, Okuma J, Cereghetti N, Buj V, Visser T, Napier H.G, Lengeler C, Burri C. Health worker compliance with severe malaria treatment guidelines in the context of implementing pre-referral rectal artesunate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Uganda: an operational study. PLoS Med. 2023;20(2):e1004189. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004189

Brunner N.C, Omoluabi E, Awor P, Okitawutshu J, Tshefu Kitoto A, Signorell A, Akano B, Ayodeji K, Okon C, Yusuf O, Athieno P, Kimera J, Tumukunde G, Angiro I, Kalenga J.C, Delvento G, Lee T.T, Lambiris M.J, Ross A, Cereghetti N, Visser T, Napier H.G, Buj V, Burri C, Lengeler C, Hetzel M.W. Prereferral rectal artesunate and referral completion among children with suspected severe malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Uganda. BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(5):e008346. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008346

Hetzel M.W, Okitawutshu J, Tshefu A, Omoluabi E, Awor P, Signorell A, Brunner N.C, Kalenga J.C, Akano B.K, Ayodeji K, Okon C, Yusuf O, Athieno P, Kimera J, Tumukunde G, Angiro I, Delvento G, Lee T.T, Lambiris M.J, Kwiatkowski M, Cereghetti N, Visser T, Napier H.G, Cohen J.M, Buj V, Burri C, Lengeler C. Effectiveness of rectal artesunate as pre-referral treatment for severe malaria in children under 5 years of age: a multi-country observational study. BMC Med. 2022;20:343. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02541-8

Namango I.H, Marshall C, Saddler A, Ross A, Kaftan D, Tenywa F, Makungwa N, Odufuwa O.G, Ligema G, Ngonyani H, Matanila I, Bharmal J, Moore J, Moore S.J, Hetzel M.W. The Centres for Disease Control light trap (CDC-LT) and the human decoy trap (HDT) compared to the human landing catch (HLC) for measuring Anopheles biting in rural Tanzania. Malar J. 2022;21:181. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04192-9

Seidahmed O, Jamea S, Kurumop S, Timbi D, Makita L, Ahmed M, Freeman T, Pomat W, Hetzel M.W. Stratification of malaria incidence in Papua New Guinea (2011–2019): contribution towards a sub-national control policy. PLoS Glob Public Health. 2022;2(11):e0000747. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000747

Brunner N.C, Awor P, Hetzel M.W. Definitions of severity in treatment seeking studies of febrile illness in children in low and middle income countries: a scoping review. Int J Public Health. 2021;66:634000. DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2021.634000

Rodríguez-Rodríguez D, Katusele M, Auwun A, Marem M, Robinson L.J, Laman M, Hetzel M.W, Pulford J. Human behavior, livelihood, and malaria transmission in two sites of Papua New Guinea. J Infect Dis. 2021;223(Suppl. 2):S171-S186. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa402

Stuck L, Fakih B.S, Al-mafazy A.H, Hofmann N.E, Holzschuh A, Grossenbacher B, Bennett A, Cotter C, Reaves E, Ali A, Van der Horst T, Felger I, Hetzel M.W, Yukich J. Malaria infection prevalence and sensitivity of reactive case detection in Zanzibar. Int J Infect Dis. 2020;97:337-346. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.017