A study was designed and conducted from 1999 to 2001 to evaluate the helminthiasis infection in three communes of Luan Thuong, Long Khanh and Luong Son of Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province where the local people have the backward habits of life and agriculture. A total number of 1,426 stool samples collected from the three investigated sites was examined by Kato method. A high cumulative infection rate of helminthiasis (90.5%) was found, of which Ascaris: 77.3%, hookworm: 65.7%, Trichuris: 20.8%, lung fluke 1.54% and Taenia: 1.12%. The mixed infection rate was 45.6%. The examination of 452 sputum samples showed a lung fluke infection rate of 4.42%.
Helminths ; Epidemiology

Malaria situation in Lao Cai was stable during 4 first months of 2008. Number of malaria patients has decreased by 39.88% so that the rate of malaria patients/population was reduced by 39.28% compared to the same period of the last year. No malaria parasites were found. The malaria prevalence was reduced in all districts compared to that of the same period of the last year. All the former malaria foci were stable with no new malaria patients found. The survey, however, revealed some weak points in the malaria surveillance network. Blood slides were not taken or taken in inconsiderable number in many communes; blood films were too small of slides were labeled over the blood film. Ten of fifty microscope points (20%) over the province had stopped working due to many reasons: movement of the staff, on training, birth leaves and so on. Forty microscope points were checked and ranked. Only 15 microscope points were ranked "good" (37.5%) as found to regularly work. These points were located mainly at hospitals, inter-communal clinics. Twelve others (12%) were ranked" fair" and 3 points (7.5%) were "weak". Many commune health centers did not regularly report monthly malaria data, or reported insufficient and wrong information causing incorrect data of the upper levels.
Malaria control ; Lao Cai province