Situation of Malaria and Expansion of Key Interventions for Malaria Elimination in Bago Region, Myanmar, 2007-2015

Abstract

Analysis of malaria trends is important for planning of malaria elimination. Therefore, we reviewed the malaria monthly reports and key interventions for malaria elimination in Bago Region of Myanmar between 2007 and 2015. Secondary data analysis revealed the trends in malaria morbidity, mortality, malaria positive rate (MPR), malaria species, annual parasite incidence (API) and annual blood examination rate (ABER). Key interventions included distribution of insecticide-treated net (ITN), long lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) and case detection. Over the 8-year period, malaria morbidity and mortality rates markedly reduced from 8 to 0.3 per 1,000 population and 1.4 to 0.1 per 100,000 population respectively. During 2010-2015, API and MPR correspondingly reduced. Together with the concomitant increase in ABER and townships with API lower than one per 1,000 population, confirmed cases of P. falciparum malaria markedly decreased from 91.1% in 2007 to 55.4% in 2015. Meanwhile, the ITN/LLIN scaling-up activities resulted in an increase in population coverage from 23.5% in 2011 to 69.3% in 2015. Data from the public sector showed declining trends in malaria morbidity and mortality and low API, increasing the chance of malaria elimination. Still, there is a possibility of residual malaria that may trigger a resurgence, and thus, it is worthwhile to promote surveillance systems, especially in private sector health care establishments.