Seidahmed Osama, Kurumop Serah, Wawaga Elizabeth, Kualawi Melvin, Siba Valentine, Jamea Sharon, Ura Yangta, Makita Leo, Pomat William, Hetzel Manuel W
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Malar J. 2025 Jan 8;24(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s12936-024-05197-2.
The Highlands of Papua New Guinea are non-endemic for malaria compared to the rest of the country. This study aimed to explore the local transmission of malaria in the Highlands through a cross-sectional school survey coupled with reactive case detection.
Between July and November 2019, 5575 schoolchildren and 1048 household members were screened for malaria using Rapid Diagnostic Tests, subsequently validated by light microscopy. In addition, an analysis of malaria cases (2017 to 2019) was conducted across 33 health facilities within the catchment areas of the surveyed schools and households.
Thirteen individuals were diagnosed with malaria: eleven with Plasmodium falciparum (five schoolchildren, six household members) and two with Plasmodium vivax (one student, one household member); all were aged ten years or older. Malaria prevalence was 0.09% [95% CI 0.03, 0.3] among schoolchildren and 1.7% [95% CI 0.3, 9.1] among household members. Eleven positive individuals (84%) reported recent travel, mainly to lower-altitude endemic areas. Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets were used by 34.8% [95% CI 28.7, 40.8] of household members. The average annual malaria incidence in the catchment areas was 3.7 cases per 1000 [95% CI 2.6, 5.3] among the general population, while children under 15 years accounted for 19% [95% CI 14, 27] of the positive cases.
Local malaria transmission appears to be minimal in the surveyed Highlands areas. Strengthening surveillance-response system to control imported cases and stop local foci could support malaria elimination in PNG. However, effective operational triggers for reactive case finding remain to be determined.
与巴布亚新几内亚其他地区相比，该国高地并非疟疾流行区。本研究旨在通过横断面学校调查结合主动病例检测，探索高地地区疟疾的本地传播情况。
2019年7月至11月期间，使用快速诊断检测法对5575名学童和1048名家庭成员进行疟疾筛查，随后通过光学显微镜检查进行验证。此外，对调查的学校和家庭集水区内33个卫生设施的疟疾病例（2017年至2019年）进行了分析。
13人被诊断患有疟疾：11人感染恶性疟原虫（5名学童，6名家庭成员），2人感染间日疟原虫（1名学生，1名家庭成员）；所有患者年龄均在10岁及以上。学童中的疟疾患病率为0.09%[95%置信区间0.03，0.3]，家庭成员中的患病率为1.7%[95%置信区间0.3，9.1]。11名阳性个体（84%）报告近期有旅行史，主要前往低海拔流行区。34.8%[95%置信区间28.7，40.8]的家庭成员使用了长效驱虫蚊帐。集水区内普通人群的年疟疾发病率平均为每1000人3.7例[95%置信区间2.6，5.3]，而15岁以下儿童占阳性病例的19%[95%置信区间14，27]。
在被调查的高地地区，本地疟疾传播似乎极少。加强监测应对系统以控制输入性病例并消除本地疫源地，可能有助于巴布亚新几内亚消除疟疾。然而，主动病例发现的有效操作触发因素仍有待确定。
