Malaria situation of Central Vietnam in December, 2009
Malaria morbidity
Malaria morbidity in the whole region, as compared with the same period of last year, increased by 23.03% (2,089/1,698 cases), with the Central Coastal area 13.36% higher, the West Highlands 34.27% up.
- 8/15 provinces had higher malaria morbidity, including Da Nang (150%), Phu Yen (126.67%), Quang Nam (113.95%), Gia Lai (86.35%), Binh Dinh (61.54%), Dak Lak (47.26%), Khanh Hoa (15.87%) and Thua Thien-Hue (10%).
- 7/15 provinces had lower malaria morbidity, including Quang Ngai (-30.56%), Ninh Thuan (-26.45%), Quang Binh (-24.29%), Binh Thuan (-16.67%), Kon Tum (-15.74%), Quang Tri (-8.33%) and Dak Nong (-7.25%).
Malaria parasites
Malaria parasites in the whole region, as compared with the same period of last year, increased by 56.38% (1,160/683 cases), with the Central Coastal area 44.08% higher, the West Highlands 69.13% up.
- 12/15 provinces with increased rates of malaria parasites included Kon Tum (484.82%), Quang Ngai (220.56%), Phu Yen (199.57%), Dak Nong (162.77%), Quang Nam (138.55%), Thua Thien-Hue (109.67%), Da Nang (98.32%), Binh Dinh (97.47%), Binh Thuan (55.43%), Khanh Hoa (48.92%), Dak Lak (46.04%), Gia Lai (41.95%)
- 3/15 provinces with decreased rates of malaria parasites included Quang Binh (-36.70%), Quang Tri (-23.24%) and Ninh Thuan (-0.68%).
Severve and complicated malaria
There were 5 cases reported, decreasing 16.67% compared with the same period of last year, with the Central Coastal area 33.33% lower and the West Highlands not . However, the province with highest severe and complicated cases was still Dak Lak.
Malaria deaths:
In December, 2009, the whole region reported 1 death from malaria in Ninh Thuan province.
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Tranferring malaria patient to the health centre. |
Malaria situation of the whole region in 12 months of 2009 against the same period of 2008
Malaria morbidity
The whole region reported a 14.61% (22,331/19,485) higher in the number of malaria cases, including the Central Coastal area 6.18% higher and the West Highlands 26.58% up.
- 8/15 provinces with increased rates of malaria cases included Gia Lai (77.20%), Phu Yen (76.81%), Binh Thuan (60%), Dak Lak (31.15%), Binh Dinh (29.64%), Quang Tri (18.61%), Quang Nam (15.65%) and Khanh Hoa (1.25%).
- 7/15 provinces with decreased rates of malaria patients included Quang Binh (-19.92%), Quang Ngai (-17.90%), Kon Tum (-11.48%), Thua Thien-Hue (-7.52%), Dak Nong (-6.14%), Da Nang (-5.56%) and Ninh Thuan (-2.81%).
Malaria parasites
The whole region reported 49.22% higher, composed by higher rates of 35.58% and 74.68% in the coastal area and the West-highlands, respectively.
- 13/15 provinces with increased rates of malaria parasites included Quang Ngai (281.71%), Phu Yen (110.51%), Binh Thuan (102.491%), Gia Lai (86.03%), Kon Tum (81.52%), Dak Lak (78.16%), Binh Dinh (73.68%), Khanh Hoa (72.20%), Quang Nam (37.86%), Dak Nong (31.02%), Ninh Thuan (7.91%), Thua Thien-Hue (5.77%) and Quang Tri (2.52%).
- 2/15 provinces with decreased rates of malaria parasites included Quang Binh (-29.20%) and Da Nang city (-14.01%)
Severe andcomplicated malaria
The whole region had 113 severe malaria cases, increasing by 32.94% compared with the same period, of which the Central Coastal area had 66/52 cases (+26.92%) and the West Highlands had 47/33 cases (+42.42%).
Malaria deaths
The whole region reported 16 deaths from malaria, 14.29% higher against the same period of last year, of which the Central Coastal area had 9 cases, 80% higher and thte West Highlands had 7 cases, 22.22% lower.
The provinces having malaria deaths included Gia Lai (3), Phu Yen (3), Ninh Thuan (3), Dak Lak (2), Quang Binh (1), Quang Tri (1), Khanh Hoa (1), Kon Tum (1), Dak Nong (1).
Evaluation of malaria situation in 12 months of 2009
According to the given statistics, the morbidity rate of the whole region increased against the same period of last year, which coincided with the prediction of IMPE-Quy Nhon and the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment (MoH). It is noticed that in provinces with increased malaria indexes, there was the increase of malaria morbidity and parasites. In some provinces, although the malaria patients tended to reduce, the malaria parasites increased. The increase of malaria-causing agent (malaria parasites) in malaria-endemic areas was in association with the appearance of malaria main vectors (i.e An.minimus and An.dirus), so the risks of malaria transmission could be at high. Moreover, the malaria situation in Central Vietnam showed unstable; especially in 12 consecutive months, malaria indexes increased against the same period of last year.
High malaria morbidity rates were mainly due to imported cases crossing the borders, such as the Vietnamese-Laotian border. Some cases in Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Quang Nam, Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan were reported by working in the forests, sleeping in the field huts, and upon returning from forests they were infected with malaria. Moreover, in the last months of 2009, the Central coastal areas were influenced by the two typhoons of Ketsana and Mirenae, which caused serious consequences such as chemical damaged, bednet swept.
According to the forecast for 2010, malaria situation of the Central Vietnam tended to increase and can become outbreaks in some provinces; especially in this Lunar New Year 2010, the people working in the forest came back home and got the germs. Moreover, the people took two weeks Tet holiday, so the surveillance was not carried out closely.
Although malaria situation tended to increase against last year, it was not out of control of localities, which actively conducted intensively control measures (eg. residual insecticidal spraying, additional bednet impregnation, and management of malaria patients) together with malaria epidemiological surveillance in severely-hit areas for timely detection and control. The Institute also directed the provinces to strengthen patients surveillance and epidemiological surveillance to prevent the outbreaks from occuring.
Situation of Fascioliasis and parasitic and entomological diseases
In the Central coastal area, there were 4,300 cases ofFascioliasis detected and treated, higher than 2,5 times against the same period of last year, mainly in provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Da Nang.
In December, of 2,292 people coming to the IMPE's clinic for medical examination, there were 81 (or 3,53%) cases detected. In December, 2009, there were 2,252 cases of fascioliasis (or 10.19%). Besides, there were 871 cases of other parasites such as Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Opisthorchis viverrini.