title: The epidemiology of malaria in the Papua New Guinea highlands: 7. Southern Highlands Province.
abstract: As the last part of a program to survey the extent of malaria transmission in the Papua New Guinea highlands, a series of rapid malaria surveys were conducted in 2003-2004 and 2005 in different parts of Southern Highlands Province. Malaria was found to be highly endemic in Lake Kutubu (prevalence rate (PR): 17-33%), moderate to highly endemic in Erave (PR: 10-31%) and moderately endemic in low-lying parts (< 1500 m) of Poroma and Kagua (PR: 12-17%), but was rare or absent elsewhere. A reported malaria epidemic prior to the 2004 surveys could be confirmed for the Poroma (PR: 26%) but not for the lower Kagua area. In Kutubu/Erave Plasmodium falciparum was the most common cause of infection (42%), followed by P. vivax (39%) and P. malariae (16%). In other areas most infections were due to P. vivax (63%). Most infections were of low density (72% < 500/ microl) and not associated with febrile illness. Overall, malaria was only a significant source of febrile illness when prevalence rates rose above 10%, or in epidemics. However, concurrent parasitaemia led to a significant reduction in haemoglobin (Hb) level (1.2 g/dl, CI95: [1.1-1.4.], p < 0.001) and population mean Hb levels were strongly correlated with overall prevalence of malarial infections (r = -0.79, p < 0.001). Based on the survey results, areas of different malaria epidemiology are delineated and options for control in each area are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, PO Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 441, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Seri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maraga
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plüss
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schöpflin
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sie
authors.forename: Jonah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iga
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ousari
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yala
authors.forename: Gaudentia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reeder
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D057147:Mosquito Nets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials