Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Cum Nodal Officer, National Vector Borne Disease Control Program and Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar
*Corresponding author Dr. S. L. Mahajan, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar. E-mail: slmahajan123@gmail.com
Online published on 4 July, 2016.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne illness. In 2014, 97 countries and territories had ongoing malaria transmission. An estimated 3.3 billion people are at risk of malaria. It is a leading cause of death for children. The Anopheles mosquito transmits malaria parasites to humans, thrives in warm, tropical and subtropical climates. Malaria Situation in India during the years 1996–2013 has shown a declining trend and in years 2011 to 2014 number of malaria cases has decreased in Punjab.
The confirmed cases of malaria were detected by microscopic examination of blood smears in the designated laboratories under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) in district Amritsar and the epidemiological study of malaria cases recorded in the years 2011 to 2014 was done.
Maximum 140 (61.1%) confirmed cases of malaria were reported in the year 201. Gradual rise in the trend of cases was observed in years 2013 and 2014. During all these years API remained much below 2. Maximum number of cases 163 (71.2%) was found in the age above 14 years. In all years higher number and percentage of males was found. Higher number of rural cases was found. During the transmission season of malaria (June to September) 181(79.0%) confirmed cases had been reported.
Majority of positive cases were male, found in transmission season and aged > 14 years, which is consistent with previous studies. Majority of cases had been observed during the period of monsoon had been observed in past studies.
malaria, Anopheles mosquito
