In December 2002, 445 households and 1832 individuals of Khanh Trung commune were interviewed and examined in a cross-sectional survey (approximately 85% inhabitants of the commune). The results showed that: The slide positive rate was 10.1%. The rate of asymptomatic malaria carriers was 77.2% of total malaria confirmed cases. There is a relation between people with sleeping in the forest and people without sleeping in its, OR=1.89, P=0.001. Ethnic group of Ra-glai infected with malaria (11.1%) and the age group which had highest rate of asymptomatic malaria was 5-9 years old 11.2%. Parasite density index of asymptomatic malaria group was lower than that of the fever malaria group
Malaria ; epidemiology ; disease ; diagnosis

Although the morbidity was sharply reduced in the last few years with the prevalence per 1000 population of 7.02%o in 1999, 4.37 %o in 2000…and the rate of population was protected by insecticide remained annual. The rate of population was protected by insecticide/population of malaria area was 58.6%o in 1999, 86.3%o in 2000. However, malaria has been increased by 31.6% during the first 9 months of 2003 as compared to 2002. Positive slide rate increased by 47% and parasite positive per patients increased by 64%. It is suggested that the activities for roll back malaria in the recent years have not been effective enough in accordance to the planned targets. It can also be attributable to the way of life of high risk groups such as swidden field sleeping, uncontrolled migration, the unsatisfactory coverage of insecticide protected people and poor management by local health
Malaria ; Insecticides ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

The incidence of asymptomatic malaria, non fever parasite carriers was 86.6% of total parasite carries. This incidence increased with the age and fluctuated between 84.6% and 95.5%. Among asymtomatic malaria patients, gametocyte carriers accounted for 68.5% of total gametocyte carrier number and increased with age in the 2-9 old age group, and in this group the rate of splenomegaly is higher than that of other age groups. Malarial antibody mean value in malarial asymtomatic patients proportional directly with the age and inversely proportional with parasite density. There was an association between risk factors and the asymptomatic malarial rate (OR = 2.4 and 3.0) with p<0.001.
epidemiology ; malaria ; diagnosis

Remote Sensing and GIS technology was studied in 2003 to detect and predict the malaria risk in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province where malaria is endemic. The results showed that there was a strong relationship between natural, environmental and socio-economic indicators and malaria transmission in different areas of the district. The malaria morbidity rate from 1996 to 2002 and enviromental parameters such as land cover, vegetation, climate, meteorology... were used for building up a map to show the risk of malaria of the district through the retrospective and existing data SPOT, LANDSAT and ASTER satellite imageries. This map is corresponding with the malaria stratification maps of the district. Based on this malaria risk map, malaria situation and epidemic can be detected and prevented
Malaria ; risk factors ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Thanks to investment and guide of Ministry of Health and National Project for malaria prevention, National Institute of Malariology - Parasitology – Entomology, from 1998 to 10 early months of 2003, malaria status have been gained stably in Ha Giang province. Three targets of the malaria control program: “reduction of morbidity, no death of malaria and no malaria outbreak” have always been gained. These achievements have been obtained due to Ha Giang have implemented well malaria prevention plans, increasing malaria surveillance. The frequent malaria surveillance in 10 early months of 2003 has helped to early detect and manage all malaria cases in the province
Malaria ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; diagnosis ;

Under the current epidemiological conditions as found in Korea, and considering the limited funds available for the malaria project, passive case detection proved to be the only practical mechanism to obtain reliable data required for the delimitation of malarious areas. The malaria map of the country was completed at the end of 1965. The high SPRs found among the blood smears reported by the PCD undts are due to the fact that the Korean farmer is able to recognize the clinical symptoms of the disease. The "fever case" reports are therefore actually "suspect malaria case" reports. The consistently high SPR has resulted in the detection of a large number of parasite carriers with the number of smears to be examined being reduced to a minimum. Although the medical group gave an important contribution to the success of the PCD service in Korea, the number of medical and public health facilities in the rural areas are still too small. This made it necessary to obtain the collaboration of laymen groups like school teachers, village chiefs etc., and their participation largely contributed to the success of the present programme. The degree of collaboration by the PCD units is higher in the more malarious areas. As no form of encouragement e.g., a reporting fee, has been given to these laymen during the past few years it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain their active co-operation. It is felt that through passive case detection alone it will not be possible to collect adequate information to provide the proof for the complete interruption of transmission.
parasitology-protozoa ; Plasmodium vivax ; malaria ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

In South Korea, the north border area has been under vivax malaria epidemic since 1993. However, Jeollabuk-do, which is about 300 kms from the border, has not experienced the same epidemic. I investigated a total of 58 notified cases of malaria in Jeollabuk-do in the year 2000. All of the cases had an exposure history in the epidemic area. Among them were 49 ex-soldiers, 3 soldiers who served near the border area and 6 civilians who traveled there. The causal agent of all cases was Plasmodium vivax. Except the civilians, the soldiers and ex-soldiers were aged in their twenties. In the present study, the incubation period was from 6 to 520 days with a median of 157 days, and the latent onset type (92%) was more prevalent than the early onset type. Illness onset of most cases (86%) peaked during the summer season (June to September) despite of variable incubation periods. The time lag for diagnosis ranged from 2 to 42 days with a median of 11 days. Jeollabuk-do has not been an area of epidemic until now, but incidences have been increasing annually since 1996. In Jeollabuk-do, early diagnosis and treatment can be a feasible disease control measure to prevent spreading from the epidemic area.
Human ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Malaria/diagnosis/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Seasons ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: In Korea, vivax malaria re-emerged in 1993 and the outbreak continued in several areas near the DMZ until now. This study was conducted to define the epidemiologic pattern of malaria in Korea and to examine the changes comparing to the one in 1999. METHODS: We collected information about civilian, veteran patients through the National malaria surveillance system and soldier from the Ministry of National Defense. We analyze epidemiological characteristics of malaria by groups (civilian, veteran, soldier). RESULTS: The reported cases of malaria in 2000 were 4,142 that number is an increase of 14% in numbers compared with those of 1999's. Most of cases occured in 17 counties nearby DMZ and from May to October(98.7%) seasonally. The incidence rates (per 100,000) in 2000 by residence were 17.0 in Gangwon-Do, 15.5 in Incheon Metropolitan city, 10.3 in Gyeonggi-Do was dereased. The risk area in 2000 were 17 counties located nearly DMZ and the high risk area were 5 counties where the incidence rate greater than 100. In case of civilian and veteran, the time required to diagnosis from onset of symptom was 8.1 days on the average. CONCLUSION: Epidemiologic pattern of malaria in 2000 did not differ from the one in 1999. Et showed regional spread (increasing risk area) but incidence rate was lowered in the high risk area of 1999. And it is necessary that we pay more attention to Gangwon-Do and Incheon metrocity to reduce the incidence rate in 2001.
Diagnosis ; Epidemiology* ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Military Personnel ; Seasons ; Veterans

Malaria is a major cause of death in tropical and sub-tropical countries, killing each year over 1 million people globally; 90% of fatalities occur in African children. Although effective ways to manage malaria now exist, the number of malaria cases is still increasing, due to several factors. In this emergency situation, prompt and effective diagnostic methods are essential for the management and control of malaria. Traditional methods for diagnosing malaria remain problematic; therefore, new technologies have been developed and introduced to overcome the limitations. This review details the currently available diagnostic methods for malaria.
Animals ; Humans ; Malaria/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/pathology/physiopathology ; Plasmodium/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: Endemic malaria has become increasingly rare since the late 1970s, but since the reemergence of indigenous vivax malaria in 1993, the number of cases of malaria have recently increased. We analyzed the cases of malaria who were treated in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital with regards to epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcome, and made a comparison between indigenous and imported cases. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 40 confirmed cases of malaria treated in the same hospital. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were indigenous and 19 were imported malaria. Peripheral blood smear revealed Plasmodium vivax in all indigenous malaria, whereas in imported cases 13 were P. falciparum and 6 were P. vivax. Yeonchon-gun(7 cases) was the most prevalent area in the indigenous cases; Africa and Southeast Asia(7 cases, respectively) were the most prevalent areas in the imported cases. Anemia(hemoglobin <10g/dL) was found more frequently in the imported cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. One patient, who was infected in South America showed initially resistant to primaquine, but was cured after extended treatment with increased dosage of primaquine. CONCLUSION: As cases of indigenous malaria in Korea are increasing, early diagnosis, treament, and prevention of malaria are important. To prevent imported malaria, anyone who travels to endemic areas should receive proper education and chemoprophylaxis, considering the pattern of drug resistance.
Africa ; Chemoprevention ; Drug Resistance ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Plasmodium vivax ; Primaquine ; Retrospective Studies ; South America ; Treatment Outcome