[Malaria cases in Malatya during the past seven years]. / Malatya'da son yedi yil içindeki sitma olgulari

Malaria can be seen in every region inhabited by human blood-sucking Anopheles and species of disease-causing Plasmodium. Since the region is on the crossroads of other cities where malaria is more widespread and it has a population of seasonal workers and an increasing number of tourists during the summer, additional imported cases may also be detected in the Malatya region. The aim of this study was to determine the state of malaria for the past seven years in Malatya. According to the records of the Malaria Control Unit of the Health Directorate of the Malatya province, 189 positive patients were reported during the seven years from 1999-2005. Of these cases, 186 (98.4%) were P. vivax, while 3 (1.6%) were imported cases of P. falciparum malaria. The rate of positivity was found to be 58.2% in male patients and 41.8% in female patients. Consequently, malaria can be said to persist as a health problem in Malatya region. It was concluded that people in the region should be informed about malaria and the ways to protect themselves.

[Malaria cases detected by active surveillance in Malatya]. / Malatya'da aktif sürveyans ile saptanan sitma vakalari.

Malaria continues to be an important health problem in and around Malatya. Although the disease can be kept under control thanks to the regular work of the Centre for the Struggle against Malaria, it can not be eradicated fully due to the socio-economic conditions in the region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the disease through active surveillance in those regions where it is most common. From 2003, until 2004, 8856 blood samples were collected at one month intervals and 66 patients were found to be positive. Sixty three of the patients were Plasmodium vivax positive and 3 patients, P. falciparum, positive. The questionnaire administered to the positive patients (ranging from 02-70 years of age) revealed that 8 of the cases originated from extra-provincial sources. Men constitute 43% of all patients and women, 23%. Consequently it was concluded in this study that malaria threatens the people in the region. Therefore it was considered important for the Malatya Centre for the Struggle against Malaria and the local university to cooperate in the struggle against malaria by offering planned training programs in public health.