Central Vietnam has long been the most severely-hit region of malaria; however, in the first 3 months of 2011, this region's malaria indexes (malaria morbidity, parasites) decreased drastically and no malaria death was recorded; these are good and appropriate signs for "The strategy of malaria control and elimination" in next 10 years (2011-2020).
Malaria situation in first 3 months of 2011 against the same period of 2010
Malaria morbidity
Malaria morbidity in the whole region in the first 3 months of 2011, as compared with the same period of 2009, decreased by 18.02%, with the West Highlands 18.59% lower (3,454/4,213) and the central coastal area 17.55% down (1,908/2,314).
8/15 provinces had lower malaria morbidity, including Quang Ngai (-50.60%), Dak Nong (-46.07%), Dak Lak (-40.54%), Quang Nam (-35.28%), Phu Yen (-34.72%), Quang Tri (-34.52%), Khanh Hoa (-33.22%), Kon Tum (-12.42%)
6/15 provinces had higher malria morbidity, including Da Nang (75%), Binh Thuan (27.33%), Ninh Thuan (24.08%), Gia Lai (15.75%), Binh Dinh (8.08%), Quang Binh (7.23%).
One province with rate of malaria morbidity not increasing and not decreasing was Thua Thien-Hue.
Malaria parasites
The malaria parasites rates in the whole region, as compares with the same period of 2009, decreased by 17.65%, with the Central Coastal area 18.46% lower and the West Highlands 17.59% down.
6/15 provinces with decreased rates of malaria parasites included Quang Nam (-68.59%), Dak Lak (-55.32%), Dak Nong (-47.69%), Quang Tri (-41.18%), Phu Yen (-23.91%) and Khanh Hoa (-5.53%).
9/15 provinces with increased rates of malaria parasites included Da Nang (536.36%), Thua Thien-Hue (137.50%), Quang Binh (101.75%), Quang Ngai (59.26%), Gia Lai (42.65%), Ninh Thuan (38.30%), Binh Dinh (8.86%), Kon Tum (2.17%) and Binh Thuan (1.94%).
Severe and complicated malaria
The whole region had 25 severe malaria cases, increasing by 13.64% against the same of last year, with the Central coastal area150% higher and the West Highland not increasing. The provinces having severe and complicated malaria included Gia Lai (10), Dak Lak (8), Da Nang (2), Ninh Thuan (1), Binh Dinh (1), Dak Nong (1), Quang Nam (1).
Malaria death
The whole region had 3 deaths from malaria, increasing 200% against the same of 2010.
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Malaria habitat in Central Vietnam. |
Evaluation of malaria situation in the first 3 months of 2011
In the first 3 months of 2011, the percentage of malaria morbidity and parasites decreased distinctly in the whole region of Central Vietnam as compared with the same period of 2010, especially in provinces of Gia Lai and Quang Nam. However, some of provinces still had increased rate such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Quang Binh and Da Nang. High malaria rates were mainly due to mobilised people (people working in the forest, sleeping in the field huts and crossing the borders); therefore, cases of severe and complicated malaria and malaria parasites also increased in these objects. This reflects risk levels of malaria as well as malaria situation of Central Vietnam.
Although the indexes of malaria patients and parasites have tended to be lowered, they didnot showed a sustainable decrease; especially from April 2011, Central Vietnam entered the peak season of malaria transmission, leading to high risk of malaria outbreaks.
The IMPE-Quy Nhon has warned the regional provinces about closely controlling malaria patients right at grassroots level, strengthening the quality of usual malaria control measures ( indoor residual spraying, bednet impregnation, treatment), as well as propaganda on malaria control activities in malaria-endemic areas to maintain the anti-malaria achievements in 2010.