Significant Decline of Malaria Incidence in Southwest of Iran (2001–2014)

Abstract

Iran is considered as one of the malaria endemic countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and is at risk due to neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan in the east, and Iraq to the west. Therefore the aim of the present investigation is the evaluation of the trend of malaria distribution during the past decade (2001–2014) in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. In this retrospective cross-sectional investigation, blood samples were taken from all malaria suspicious cases who were referred to health centers across Khuzestan province. For each positive subject a questionnaire containing demographic information was filled out. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18. From a total of 541 malaria confirmed cases, 498 (92.05%) were male and 43 (7.95%) were female. The highest number of infections was seen in 2001 with 161 (29.75%) cases and the lowest was in 2014 with 0 (0%). Also, Plasmodium vivax was identified as dominant species in 478 (88.35%) individuals and P. falciparum comprised 63 (11.65%). The highest infection rate was observed in non-Iranian populations with number 459 (84.85%) and imported cases 508 (93.90%). Also, the majority of subjects were over 15 years of age, 458 (84.65%). Due to proximity to endemic countries which has made the malaria campaign difficult, more effort is needed to control the infection in order to achieve malaria elimination.

Spatial distribution and epidemiological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southwest of Iran

“…This epidemiological study was performed in southwestern of Iran that located between 29°57 0 -33°0 0 N latitudes and 47°4 0 0 -50°33 0 E longitudes with an area of about 64,055 km 2 . This province with a population of 4,531,720 inhabitants (2,286,209 male and 2,245,511 female) is bordered by Iraq in the west, Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiari and Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad provinces in the northeast and east, Lorestan province in the north, Bushehr province in the southeast and Persian Gulf in the south 8 (Fig. 1).…”

“…Besides, due to its adjacency to Iraq (an endemic country), traffic from foreign nationals is observed over the year. 8 On the other hand, presence of vectors (Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus sergenti) and reservoir (a rodent of the genus Tatera indica) for CL in the region, 5 makes this province faced at risk. Due to lack of a comprehensive study in this region, the aim of present investigation was to evaluate the epidemiological features and spatial distribution of CL during six consecutive years (2009-2014).…”

Knowledge, practices and gender discrepancies of migrant labours concerning malaria in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

“…1 In addition to climate, other factors such as residence, personal and social lifestyle, cultural and economic status of the region, number of entered migrants to the region, and quantity and quality of malaria control programs in the region hamper the outbreak and spread of malaria. 25 The quantification and analysis of Human Population Movement (HPM) can be important for successful planning of both malaria control and elimination. 5 Patterns and magnitudes of HPM and individual infection rates differ between demographic groups.…”

Trend Analysis of Mortality Rates for Leading Causes of Death Among Under-Five Children in Iran, 2000 - 2015

“…There was no similar study for comparison, but a significant declining trend in the malaria incidence rate has been reported in recent years in Iran (27,28). These findings may justify our result.…”