Study of simplified measures for malaria surveillance in the late consolidation phase in China.

This paper presents the results of a study on simplified surveillance methods conducted in 23 pilot counties in 11 provinces and municipalities in China where reside 15 million people and malaria control has been in the late consolidation phase. Two simplified surveillance Schemes (A and B) taking treatment of clinical cases as the main measure were implemented in 1992-1994. The rate of annual blood examination for case detection was 1.0% in pilot Scheme A, while in areas of scheme B it was 0.3%. The implementation of both Scheme A and Scheme B, simplified or without treatment of infection foci and management of mobile populations, acquired satisfactory effects against malaria. Consequently, malaria incidence was declining steadily, only a few indigenous and introduced cases were detected. The parasite rate in residents and the IFA positive rate in children were very low. The results of pilot studies and cost-effectiveness analysis indicated that Scheme B is effective, rational and economic, and can be implemented to replace the routine surveillance measures in areas where malaria has been at the late consolidation phase in China.

Malaria: cost to India and future trends.

A study of the economic loss due to malaria and its future trends revealed that malaria in India was responsible for economic loss between US$ 0.5 to 1.0 billion annually. The study also brought out that malariogenic potential of the country is increasing, and new malaria paradigms have been established requiring new approaches for its control. Unless this trend is checked losses due to malaria will increase in the coming decades. Effective malaria control requires immediate remedial measures to prevent environmental degradation conductive to vector proliferation; and renewed attack on malaria based on local epidemiological, entomological and social determinants. The first requirement for such an action is a reliable data base, both on the malariometric indices and the causative factors. Research therefore should be intensified to fill the gaps, generate new knowledge, disseminate malaria information as widely as possible and provide training for success in malaria control by the implementation of the global malaria control strategy.