Seasonal dynamics and microgeographical spatial heterogeneity of malaria along the China-Myanmar border

Yue Hu, Guofa Zhou, Yonghua Ruan, Ming chieh Lee, Xin Xu, Shuang Deng, Yao Bai, Jie Zhang, James Morris, Huaie Liu, Ying Wang, Qi Fan, Peipei Li, Yanrui Wu, Zhaoqing Yang, Guiyun Yan, Liwang Cui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Malaria transmission is heterogeneous in the Greater Mekong Subregion with most of the cases occurring along international borders. Knowledge of transmission hotspots is essential for targeted malaria control and elimination in this region. This study aimed to determine the dynamics of malaria transmission and possible existence of transmission hotspots on a microgeographical scale along the China-Myanmar border. Microscopically confirmed clinical malaria cases were recorded in five border villages through a recently established surveillance system between January 2011 and December 2014. A total of 424 clinical cases with confirmed spatial and temporal information were analyzed, of which 330 (77.8%) were Plasmodium vivax and 88 (20.8%) were Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. The P. vivax and P. falciparum case ratio increased dramatically from 2.2 in 2011 to 4.7 in 2014, demonstrating that P. vivax malaria has become the predominant parasite species. Clinical infections showed a strong bimodal seasonality. There were significant differences in monthly average incidence rates among the study villages with rates in a village in China being 3-8 folds lower than those in nearby villages in Myanmar. Spatial analysis revealed the presence of clinical malaria hotspots in four villages. This information on malaria seasonal dynamics and transmission hotspots should be harnessed for planning targeted control.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12-19
Number of pages8
JournalActa Tropica
Volume157
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

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