A Study of Malaria in Seven States of India: Jammu and Kashmir; Punjab, Uttar Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh; Assam; Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh

ABSTRACT

Background: To the best knowledge of the author, there is no available literature on the status of Malaria in the Union Territory (U.T.) of Jammu and Kashmir (J & K), the Punjab state of India, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Hence the preparation of this document. Objectives: To find out the parameters of Malaria in the U.T. of J & K, Punjab state of India, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh till as recently as possible. Methods: By studying the documents prepared by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), an internet search, a study of the website of the National Health Mission, Manipur, and a study of the document titled “National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India 2016-2030” published by the NCVBDC. Results: Rajouri District in the U.T. of J & K had an Annual Parasite Incidence (API) of Malaria during 2017 of 0.12 which decreased to 0.06 in 2018. It is seen that the API of Malaria in Punjab had come down to the very low level of 0.02 in 2018 and that there were only 4 cases of Malaria during 2021 (up to 26 th April 2021). Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh had a low API of Malaria of 0.06 during 2017 which increased to 7.32 in 2018. Sheopur District of Madhya Pradesh had a very high API of Malaria during 2017 and 2018 of 6.34 and 4.42 respectively. Udalguri district in Assam had an API of Malaria during 2017 of 1.24 which increased to 2.62 in 2018. Manipur reached zero API in 2018. Arunachal Pradesh used to have a high API of Malaria of 4.30 during 2014 which decreased to 0.39 in 2018. Conclusions: If interventions like the treatment of asymptomatic carriers take place, it is expected that the API in the U.T. of J & K, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh will come down sooner. Punjab state of India is very close to achieving Malariaelimination goals. A finding from the 2019 Malaria epidemic in Uttar Pradesh was that, out of the 74749 cases of Malaria in the state, 9690 were found to be due to P. falciparum. Although Manipur did not reach zero Malaria cases in 2018, it did reach zero API that year. Therefore, it is a good candidate for being the first state or union territory in the country close to being able to achieve near-elimination goals since no other state or union territory achieved zero API in 2018.