Amid the increased and complicated malaria situation, on Feb.4-2010 the Department of Preventive Medicine & Environmental Health (DPMEH)-MoH issued Notice No. 817/BYT-DPMT to the Chairman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee on intensively strengthening malaria control activities; and on Feb.9. 2010, the IMPE issued Notice No. 49/VSR-DT warning of increasing malaria situation and urging causative measures to 15 central provinces.
According to the report from the DPMEH, in 12 months of 2009 malaria tended to be very complicated in Binh Phuoc province. Although the malaria cases reduced by 1.3% and malaria death by 1 case, they occupied nearly 42.8% of the morbidity and one-third (3/10 cases) of the mortality I the whole Southern region. In addition, the malaria parasite rate increased by 31% compared with 2008, mostly concentrated in some districts of Phuoc Long, Dong Phu, Loc Ninh, Binh Long, especially at Dak Nhau commune of Bu Dang district.
Meanwhile, the Central region is regarded as the cradle of malaria, and the malaria indicators showed an increasing trend in 2009. Dak Nong, a central highland province adjacent to the malaria most stricken province of Binh Phuoc, is at very high risk of malaria outbreaks. Threfore, there should be prompt and effective malaria control measures, especially in the mean time of Tet holidays. As per statistics by IMPE, comparing with the same period of 2008, 12 months of 2009 saw an increasing tendency of malaria indocators, including a 14.61% (22,331/19,485 cases) higher inmorbidity, 49.22% (1,03/0,69) rise in malaria parasite rates, 32.94% (113/85 cases) and14.29% (16/14 cases) up in severe cases and deaths, respectively. Specifically, 13 out of 15 central provinces showed an increase in malaria parasite rates, ie. Quang Ngai (+287,71%), Phu Yen (+110,51%), Binh Thuan (+102,49%), Gia Lai (+86,03%), Kon Tum (+81,52%), Dac Lac (+78,16%), Binh Dinh (+73,68%), Khanh Hoa (+72,20%), Quang Nam (+37,86%), Dac Nong (+31,02%), Ninh Thuan (+7,91%), Thua Thien-Hue (+5,77%) và Quang Tri (+2,52%); 8/15 provinces with higher number of malaria cases included Gia Lai (+77,20%), Phu Yen (+76,81%), Binh Thuan (+60,0%), Dak Lak (+31,15%), Binh Dinh (+29,64%), Quang Tri (+18,61%), Quang Nam (+15,65%) and Khanh Hoa (+1,25%); and 9/15 provinces had malaria deaths, including Gia Lai (3 cases), Ninh Thuan (3 cases), Phu Yen (3 cases), Dak Lak (2 cases), Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Khanh Hoa, Quang Tri and Quang Binh having 1 case each. Besides the major causes of malaria in crease suck as population uncontrollable movements, sleeping in the forests and field huts, and border crossings, other factors which should be taken into consideration were the coming epidemic cycle and especially the impacts of the environmental changes as a result of floods, which were concurrent with high mosquito development and malaria transmission seasons.
At the beginning of 2010, the malaria situation is expected to claim more cases, deaths and the possibility of wide-spreading malaria outbreaks, especially during Tet holidays, when a great amount of prople returning home from forest-related work.
Implementing the direction of the MoH on strengthening malaria control activities and preventing malaria occurrence, the IMPE Quy Nhon urges the provincial health departments, provincial centres of preventive medicine in 15 central provinces to keep an eye on malaria surveillance, especially in areas at high risk of outbreak occurrence; areas with high frequency of border-crossings and population movement. In addition, there should be intensive monitoring in treatment and management of malaria cases and parasite carriers at the grass-roots levels while paying attention to the positive cases post-treatment and providing sufficient amount of anti-malarial drugs for malaria treatment. Furthermore, health education and communication should be maintained and strengthened in coordination with the cultural and information sector. At the times before, during and after Tet, duty staff should be arranged and report on time the malaria situation to the IMPE Quy Nhon for immediate solutions and precautious measures.