World Malaria Day: Our story with malaria in Oman

Current Epidemiological Characteristics of Imported Malaria, Vector Control Status and Malaria Elimination Prospects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries

“…According to the Omani Government statistics, Omani nationals comprised 57.7% of the total population while the remaining 42.3% individuals were expatriates who had come to work in Oman or their dependents [ 54 ]. Oman was a malaria-endemic country till the 1960s as the climate of Oman is suitable for the mosquito vectors which were responsible for the indigenous transmission of infection, and nearly 30% of the population had malaria, especially in the northern areas of the country, mostly with P. falciparum infection [ 30 , 31 ]. A malaria control program was initiated in 1975 with several key objectives.…”

“…These included setting up of malaria training centers for local staff, identification of the source (vector, An. culicifacies ) and its reduction by larvivorous fish Aphanius dispar , widespread use of larvicides and continuous tracking of larval control and weekly chloroquine prophylaxis treatments of school children in certain highly endemic areas during 1973–1979 [ 30 ]. Despite these measures, Oman was still considered an endemic country until 1990 as nearly 33,000 malaria cases were reported every year.…”

“…As stated above, four (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and UAE) of six GCC countries have been malaria-free for several decades, while Oman has reported indigenous transmission of malaria cases only rarely in recent years [ 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 36 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 53 , 55 , 56 ]. Saudi Arabia is the only GCC country which continues to have indigenous transmission of malaria cases, even though their numbers have declined considerably in recent years [ 35 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 ].…”

“…Saudi Arabia is the only GCC country which continues to have indigenous transmission of malaria cases, even though their numbers have declined considerably in recent years [ 35 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. However, travel-related imported malaria cases continue to occur in all GCC countries as they have large expatriate populations originating from malaria-endemic countries [ 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. More stringent border controls due to COVID-19 in the last several months have likely reduced the incidence of imported malaria cases in nearly all GCC countries [Jamshaid Iqbal, unpublished observations].…”

“…As of now, no mosquito species are known to breed in Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, and vigilance is being exercised by relevant departments of these governments to maintain this status [ 29 , 36 , 45 ]. Furthermore, efficient mosquito vector control efforts have either reduced or eliminated breeding foci in Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with the result that indigenous transmission of infections has either not been reported (Qatar) [ 33 , 46 , 47 , 55 , 56 ], is reported very infrequently (Oman) [ 30 , 31 , 32 ] or has reduced considerably (Saudi Arabia) [ 34 , 35 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. However, a few problem areas have also remained or emerged recently.…”