Journal of Vector Borne Diseases (Sep 2007)

Malaria situation in forest-fringed villages of Sonitpur district (Assam), India bordering Arunachal Pradesh during an outbreak

  • N.G. Das, P.K. Talukdar, J. Kalita, I. Baruah & R.B. Sribastav

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 3
pp. 213 – 218

Abstract

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Background & objectives: Epidemiological and entomological studies were undertaken in forestfringedvillages in Sonitpur district (Assam) bordering Arunachal Pradesh, India to assess the malariasituation. Blood smears (thick and thin) were collected from the fever cases through door-to-doorsurvey. Both the blood smears stained with Giemsa were used for malaria parasite detection. Slidepositivity rate (SPR) was recorded as 39.1% with predominance of Plasmodium falciparum (97.1%)infections. Children between 5 and 14 yr showed higher rates of infection.Methods & Results: Over all malaria prevalence was higher among the males (SPR 43.2%) than infemales (SPR 34.5%). Adult mosquito collection was made using CDC miniature light-traps fromdusk-to-dawn. Per-trap night density of mosquitoes in human dwellings and cattlesheds were 289and 925, respectively. Anopheles minimus and An. dirus, the major vectors of malaria in Northeasternregion of India formed 33.2% of the total vectors recorded. An. dirus could be recorded only fromhuman dwellings. The results showed high malaria risk in the study villages.Interpretation & conclusion: High vector density with high parity rate, poor socio-economicconditions, lack of awareness, poor sanitation and congenial atmosphere for mosquito proliferationare aggravating the malaria situation in the study area.

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