Alqassim Ahmad Y
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia.
J Vector Borne Dis. 2024;61(4):614-621. doi: 10.4103/JVBD.jvbd_38_24. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
Despite progress, malaria remains endemic in Jazan, Saudi Arabia necessitating epidemiological research to guide elimination strategies. This study analyzed recent surveillance data to elucidate drivers of sustained transmission. A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted using malaria surveillance data from the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia over a 3-year period from January 2018 to December 2020.
Deidentified records of all confirmed malaria cases reported across Jazan during the study period were obtained from Jazan Department of Health infectious disease surveillance system. Additional meteorological data was acquired to assess climatic correlates. The final analysis included 5255 confirmed cases that met the completeness criteria for key variables. Descriptive statistics characterized cases across demographic factors and spatial and temporal distributions. Correlations and linear regression modeling identified associations between monthly cases and weather parameters mapping visualized geographic patterns.
Of the 5255 confirmed cases, most were concentrated in Baish sector (50.8-72.0% annually), affected adult male foreigners (93.8-97.0%), peaked inconsistently across seasons, and were imported (85.4-94.9%). Non-Saudi nationalities had 6-fold higher incidence versus Saudi citizens in 2020 (677.6 vs 23.1 per 100,000). Monthly cases associated negatively with temperature (p=0.015) and positively with windspeed (p=0.005).
Malaria persistence in Jazan involves geographic and demographic hotspots driven by imported infections and climate effects on vectors. Tailored programming aligned with evolving local dynamics will be essential to sustain elimination gains. Surveillance, optimized interventions, and flexible adaptation to high-risk locations and/or populations and meteorological influences are key priorities.
尽管取得了进展，但疟疾在沙特阿拉伯的吉赞地区仍然流行，因此需要进行流行病学研究以指导消除策略。本研究分析了近期监测数据，以阐明持续传播的驱动因素。使用沙特阿拉伯吉赞地区2018年1月至2020年12月3年期间的疟疾监测数据进行了一项回顾性流行病学研究。
从吉赞卫生部传染病监测系统获取研究期间吉赞地区报告的所有确诊疟疾病例的匿名记录。获取了额外的气象数据以评估气候相关性。最终分析包括5255例符合关键变量完整性标准的确诊病例。描述性统计描述了病例在人口统计学因素、空间和时间分布方面的特征。相关性和线性回归模型确定了每月病例与天气参数之间的关联，并通过地图可视化地理模式。
在5255例确诊病例中，大多数集中在拜什地区（每年50.8%-72.0%），受影响的是成年男性外国人（93.8%-97.0%），各季节发病高峰不一致，且为输入性病例（85.4%-94.9%）。2020年，非沙特国籍人群的发病率比沙特公民高6倍（每10万人中分别为677.6例和23.1例）。每月病例数与温度呈负相关（p=0.015），与风速呈正相关（p=0.005）。
吉赞地区疟疾的持续存在涉及由输入性感染和气候对媒介的影响驱动的地理和人口统计学热点。根据不断变化的当地动态制定量身定制的规划对于维持消除成果至关重要。监测、优化干预措施以及灵活适应高风险地点和/或人群以及气象影响是关键优先事项。
