More cases of Malaria imported than locals

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Apr.26: Even though Nepal is a Malaria endemic country, it is observed that most cases of Malaria in people who are infected abroad than locals.

According to the report released by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) on the occasion of World Malaria Day on Monday, 336 people have been infected with malaria in the fiscal year 2077/78 so far. 

Of them, 28 cases are recorded at a local level and 308 cases are observed in people who have come from outside. All of the infected recovered after treatment. 

Similarly, 377 people have been infected with malaria in the fiscal year 2077/78. Of them, 66 cases are recorded at a local level and 311 cases are observed in people who have come from outside. A total of 619 people were infected with malaria in the fiscal year 2076/77, of them, 102 locals were infected, while 517 cases were from outside. 

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that spreads when an infected mosquito bites a person, which then transfers parasites into people’s bloodstream. 

Dr Chuman Lal Das, Director at the EDCD, said that more patients of Malaria are found in people who come from India. Because of the open order, it is easy to spread diseases Malaria in Nepal easily. 

He informed that more patients with Malaria are recorded in Mugu, Daleldhura, and Baitadi. Due to the lack of strict border regulation and screening in Nepal to detect diseases, many vector-borne diseases like Malaria gets spread in Nepal by people who are migratory workers in India. 

Dr Shalik Ram Dhital, Public Health Officer at Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), cases of Malaria were mostly observed in the Terai belts of the country, however, recently it is seen even in the Himalayan belts for it is highly contagious in nature. 

He said, “Most of the cases of Malaria is in people who are infected abroad, then on locals, therefore, it is difficult to eliminate Malaria from the country. However, a strong screening of people entering the country, especially on the Nepal-India border, must be adopted to lessen cases entering Nepal.”

He said that Malaria can be prevented by antimalarial drugs and the use of protection measures against mosquitos’ bites. 

Age-wise Distribution

There is a total of five cases of Malaria in the 0-4 age group, 14 cases in the 5-9 age group, 19 in the age group 10-14, and 339 people above 15 years have caught Malaria in the fiscal year 2077/78. 

Province wise-distribution

Three cases of Malaria were recorded in Province 1, of them, all cases were observed in people infected abroad in the fiscal year 2078/29 so far. In Madhesh Pradesh Province 11 cases were recorded, where 10 were seen in people infected abroad, and 1 is local. In Bagmati Province 10 cases were recorded, where 8 is from people infected abroad, and two cases were infected locally. A total of 12 cases of Malaria were recorded in Gandaki Province, where all were recorded in people infected abroad. 84 cases of Malaria were recorded in Lumbini Province, of them, 77 were seen in people infected abroad. 

Similarly, 34 cases of Malaria were recorded in Karnali Province, where 17 cases were observed in people infected abroad and 17 were locally infected. And, 223 Malaria cases were detected in Sudur Paschim Province, of them, 184 were detected in people infected abroad and 39 were infected locally. 

As per the Nepal Malaria Strategic Plan, 2014-2025, Nepal aims to eliminate Malaria by the year 2025, and local cases of Malaria by the year 2022. Nepal started the Malaria Control Program under Insect Borne Disease Control Program from the year 1958.