Epidemiology study of malaria in Larestan during 2001-2011

Introduction: Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in tropical and
subtropical regions of the world. In all provinces of Iran except Sistan and Baluchestan,
Hormozgan and the tropical parts of Kerman, malaria is under control. However, due to
favorable conditions, the possibility of incidence in parts of the country still exists. So
Disease surveillance and epidemiological study is necessary to control the disease. The
aim of this study was to investigate malaria in Larestan during 2001-2011.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional–descriptive study. Use of patient records was
conducted during 2001-2011 at the Larestan Center for Disease. Demographic and clinical
characteristics of patients extract from the recorded documents and descriptive statistics
(frequency and percentage frequency) and surveillance indicators ABER, SPR, API were
calculated. For data analysis and calculation of indicators SPSS 16 and Excel 2007
software were used.
Results: 623 cases were recorded. 87.5% was men, and 6.9% was Iranian. 89.4%
suffering vivax, 7.4% falciparum and 3.2% was mixed. In addition, from an
epidemiological point of view 52.5% were introduced cases, 45.9% were relapse cases,
1.6% were Indigenous cases, and none of them from local communication. 2 deaths were
reported in 2001 and 2002. ABER index was 4.1 in 2009 compare to 1.8 in 2005. SPR
index was 2.7 in 2001 compare to 0.05 for 2010, and API index was 95 per thousand in
2002 compare to 1.28 in 2011. SPR and API indices have regular decreasing.
Conclusion: Results showed a regular decreasing trend in the incidence of malaria in
Larestan. If this trend and surveillance continue in the future, malaria will not be a health
problem for Larestan in future.