[Epidemiological analysis of malaria prevalence in Jiangsu Province in 2014].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the malaria epidemic situation and characteristics in Jiangsu Province in 2014, so as to provide the evidence for formulating and adjusting appropriate strategies and measures for malaria elimination in this province.

METHODS

The reported malaria cases from the Internet Reporting System and the epidemiological data of malaria in Jiangsu Province were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 355 malaria cases were reported in Jiangsu Province in 2014, which was increased by 4.11% comparing to that in 2013 (341 cases), and the malaria incidence was 0.046/10 000. All the 355 cases were imported from other countries, among which, 4 cases (1.13%) were from Southeast Asia; the other 351 cases (98.87%) were from 21 African countries. Though the cases were distributed in all the 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, the number of cases in 5 of them namely Huai' an, Nantong, Lianyungang, Yangzhou and Taizhou accounted for 63.38% (225/ 355). A total of 292 falciparum malaria cases, 4 tertian malaria cases, 10 quartan malaria cases, 46 ovale malaria cases and 3 mixed infection cases were confirmed after re-checked by Jiangsu Provincial Reference Lab of Malaria. The follow-up observation of the cases showed that among the 355 cases, 6 falciparum malaria cases recrudesced, and 4 ovale malaria cases and 1 tertian malaria case recurred.

CONCLUSIONS

There have been no local malaria cases reported from Jiangsu Province in the last three years, indicating the object of malaria elimination has been achieved initiatively. However, there are still many imported malaria cases from other countries, with a diverse species of plasmodium. Therefore, the surveillance of the imported malaria, the training for diagnosis and treatment of malaria as well as the health education to the key population should be strengthened.