High altitude epidemic malaria in Bamian province, central Afghanistan.
We report an epidemic of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the remote valley of Bamian (altitude 2250 m-2400 m) in the central highlands of Afghanistan. A team of malaria experts from the World Health Organization and HealthNet International carried out the investigation. A total of 215 peripheral blood smears were obtained and 63 cases of malaria (90.5% P. falciparum, the remainder P. vivax) were confirmed. The study revealed that areas vulnerable to malaria in Afghanistan are more widespread than previously recognized. The area had been malaria-free until recently, when the disease appears to have been introduced as a consequence of protracted conflict and resultant population movement, and transmitted locally during the short summer months. The outbreak led to severe morbidity and high mortality in a province having only a few poorly-provisioned health care facilities.
Abdur Rab
M
M
HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Freeman
T W
TW
Rahim
S
S
Durrani
N
N
Simon-Taha
A
A
Rowland
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare