Malaria and dengue outbreaks during a national disaster in Pakistan: A rising concern for public health

Arshad, Talal; Ali, Wajahat; Jabeen, Adina; Ali, Syed

doi:10.7189/jogh.12.03076

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…22 Similar studies have previously indicated an association between flooding and a surge in malarial cases. [23][24][25][26] We encountered data constraints due to widespread infrastructure damage. In several locations, the health care system experienced a collapse, further exacerbating our limitations in obtaining comprehensive data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Associated with Priority Diseases in Flood-Affected Areas Using District Health Information System (DHIS2) During September–December 2022: Pakistan Experience

Nisar,

Iqbal,

Sartaaj

et al. 2024

Disaster med. public health prep.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To quantify the burden of communicable diseases and characterize the most reported infections during public health emergency of floods in Pakistan. Methods: The study’s design is a descriptive trend analysis. The study utilized the disease data reported to District Health Information System (DHIS2) for the 12 most frequently reported priority diseases under the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system in Pakistan. Results: In total, there were 1,532,963 suspected cases during August to December 2022 in flood-affected districts (n = 75) across Pakistan; Sindh Province reported the highest number of cases (n = 692,673) from 23 districts, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) (n = 568,682) from 17 districts, Balochistan (n = 167,215) from 32 districts, and Punjab (n = 104,393) from 3 districts. High positivity was reported for malaria (79,622/201,901; 39.4%), followed by acute diarrhea (non-cholera) (23/62; 37.1%), hepatitis A and E (47/252; 18.7%), and dengue (603/3245; 18.6%). The crude mortality rate was 11.9 per 10 000 population (1824/1,532,963 [deaths/cases]). Conclusion: The study identified acute respiratory infection, acute diarrhea, malaria, and skin diseases as the most prevalent diseases. This suggests that preparedness efforts and interventions targeting these diseases should be prioritized in future flood response plans. The study highlights the importance of strengthening the IDSR as a Disease Early Warning System through the implementation of the DHIS2.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Associated with Priority Diseases in Flood-Affected Areas Using District Health Information System (DHIS2) During September–December 2022: Pakistan Experience

Nisar,

Iqbal,

Sartaaj

et al. 2024

Disaster med. public health prep.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The current ndings also showed that, in comparison to Northern KP districts, malaria was more common in Southern KP districts due to a lack of health care services, low development, and the use of presumed treatment. The ongoing monsoon season in 2022 has in icted substantial damage in Pakistan, with record rainfall reaching three times the usual annual average [52]. Environmental conditions, notably the extensive ooding following exceptional monsoon rains in Southern KP, have expanded the suitable zones for mosquito vector proliferation and breeding, consequently amplifying malaria incidences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Epidemiology, Seasonal variation and Phylogenetic analysis of human Plasmodium infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2022-2023

Khan,

Anjum,

Akbar

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Malaria remains a serious health problem in Pakistan and 60% of the Pakistani population lives in malaria-endemic regions. This study was undertaken in 10 major districts hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to study the malarial infection pattern. The baseline information about the recent epidemiology, age, seasonal variation, gender-wise species distribution using negative binomial regression analysis and phylogenetic analysis of Plasmodium circulating in the study area was included in the objective. Methods Using microscopy total 13363 malaria suspected cases were enrolled. Among the participants, 1004 individuals tested positive via microscopy. The positive cases were subjected to nested PCR to amplify the gene of the 18S rRNA of Plasmodium species. Following successful amplification, the gene sequences were obtained and submitted to the Gene Bank. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA7. Results A total of 539 cases were recruited from Southern KP with the highest occurrence in Bannu (26.15%) and the lowest in Lakki Marwat (13.72%). From Northern KP 465 cases were enlisted, Peshawar (30.96%) shows the maximum occurrence and lowest from Buner (7.52%). The annual blood examination rate, annual parasite incidence, and slide positivity rate were 0.08%, 0.04% per 1000 population, and 7.52% respectively. The Plasmodium vivax (78.38%), P. falciparum (17.23%), and mixed infection (4.38%) were diagnosed from both zones of KP through microscopy. The PCR analysis confirmed a consistent trend in species identification, with Plasmodium vivax showing a higher percentage than P. falciparum, followed by mixed infections. However, the incidence of malaria was observed to be higher in Southern KP (6.74%), compared to 5.84% in Northern KP. The overall percentage of malaria occurrence in all recruited districts of KP was 6.29%. The males among genders and age group of 1–15 were more affected by malaria. Seasonal analysis revealed that malaria reached its peak during the summer. Conclusion Malaria incidence exhibited a higher prevalence in Southern KP particularly during the summer season. The males and age group of 1–15 were more affected by malaria. In both zones of KP, Plasmodium infections are largely attributed to P. vivax.

show abstract

“…Before the, 2022 monsoon season, Pakistan implemented WHO-recommended strategies to control mosquito-borne diseases and distributed free LLINs to prevent mosquito bites. The government offered free diagnostic tests, chloroquine, and primaquine, while also implementing IRS and larval control supported by global and government funds ( Arshad et al., 2022 ). But then, the flood happened, disrupting efforts to control malaria by affecting hard-to-reach places and putting progress at risk.…”

Section: Malaria and Pakistanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Updates on traditional methods for combating malaria and emerging Wolbachia-based interventions

Mushtaq,

Sarwar,

Chaudhry

et al. 2024

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The escalating challenge of malaria control necessitates innovative approaches that extend beyond traditional control strategies. This review explores the incorporation of traditional vector control techniques with emerging Wolbachia-based interventions. Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria, offers a novel approach for combatting vector-borne diseases, including malaria, by reducing the mosquitoes’ ability to transmit these diseases. The study explores the rationale for this integration, presenting various case studies and pilot projects that have exhibited significant success. Employing a multi-dimensional approach that includes community mobilization, environmental modifications, and new biological methods, the paper posits that integrated efforts could mark a turning point in the struggle against malaria. Our findings indicate that incorporating Wolbachia-based strategies into existing vector management programs not only is feasible but also heightens the efficacy of malaria control initiatives in different countries especially in Pakistan. The paper concludes that continued research and international collaboration are imperative for translating these promising methods from the laboratory to the field, thereby offering a more sustainable and effective malaria control strategy.

show abstract

Malaria and dengue outbreaks during a national disaster in Pakistan: A rising concern for public health

Cited by 12 publications

References 7 publications

Mortality Associated with Priority Diseases in Flood-Affected Areas Using District Health Information System (DHIS2) During September–December 2022: Pakistan Experience

Mortality Associated with Priority Diseases in Flood-Affected Areas Using District Health Information System (DHIS2) During September–December 2022: Pakistan Experience

Molecular Epidemiology, Seasonal variation and Phylogenetic analysis of human Plasmodium infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2022-2023

Updates on traditional methods for combating malaria and emerging Wolbachia-based interventions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About