ReviewAn epidemiological overview of malaria in Bangladesh
Introduction
Genetic research suggests that human malarial parasites might have originated some 2–3 million years ago, although some studies propose a later appearance of malarial pathogens in human populations, perhaps 10,000 years back.1, 2 Since then, malaria has established itself as a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimates showed that 106 countries were malaria-endemic in 2010, and more than 3.3 billion people worldwide were likely to get a malarial infection that year.1, 3 The global malaria trends show a decline in the percentage of population exposed, at least up to 1994, but the total number of people at risk for malaria has never declined since 1900.1, 3
The burden of malaria is significant in South-East Asia, which follows Africa in terms of reported malaria cases; almost 70% of a total of 1.8 billion people living in this region are at risk of malaria.1, 3 All the countries in the area except the Maldives are malaria endemic. Cases of malaria in South-East Asia account for approximately 15% of the global toll and 38,000 people died from malaria in 2010.3 In addition, these numbers may be even higher because existing surveillance systems suffer from substantial under-reporting.4 Conversely, signs of reduction have been observed in both malaria cases and deaths over the last years as depicted in Fig. 1.5
Bangladesh is one of the four major malaria endemic countries in the region with approximately 34% of its population at risk of malaria.3, 6 Given the high burden of malaria in Bangladesh and the lack of recent comprehensive epidemiological reviews, in the current paper we try to describe the dynamics of malaria transmission in Bangladesh, explain trends and suggest measures for a better response.
Section snippets
Methods
Relevant information was retrieved from published articles and reports. Electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched using the terms: “Malaria” combined with “Bangladesh” (last search: February 07, 2012).
Malaria endemicity in Bangladesh
More than 10 million people of Bangladesh are at high risk for malaria.3 The steady rise of the prevalence of malaria in Bangladesh has partly been attributed to the 1985 ban on use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), to the discontinuation of malaria eradication program and to the large-scale population movements during the war of independence.7, 8 Malaria is not epidemic in the general population of Bangladesh.9, 10 However, certain areas of the country are more affected. Most of the
Conclusions
Malaria in Bangladesh is concentrated in areas along the South-Eastern border of the country. While Bangladesh managed to extend its coverage of RDTs and LLINs/ITNs to significant levels, cross-border malaria and drug resistance to commonly used anti-malarial drugs comprise a major challenge in controlling the disease. Potential for P. knowlesi infection is another serious issue. Success in neighbouring countries can point the way to significantly reducing the malaria burden and endemicity. For
Source of funding statement
There was no specific funding source for this manuscript.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed by the authors of this manuscript do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the institutions with which the authors are affiliated.
Conflict of interest statement
We declare that we do not have any financial or personal conflict of interest.
References (99)
- et al.
The global distribution and population at risk of malaria: past, present, and future
Lancet Infect Dis
(2004) - et al.
Malaria evolution in South Asia: knowledge for control and elimination
Acta Trop
(2012) - et al.
Plasmodium malariae in Bangladesh
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
(2010) - et al.
A large focus of naturally acquired Plasmodium knowlesi infections in human beings
Lancet
(2004) - et al.
Knowlesi malaria: newly emergent and of public health importance?
Trends Parasitol
(2008) - et al.
A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of alternative treatment regimens for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in a multidrug-resistant falciparum area of Bangladesh– narrowing the options for the national malaria control programme?
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
(2001) - et al.
Efficacy of chloroquine + sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, mefloquine + artesunate and artemether + lumefantrine combination therapies to treat plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
(2005) - et al.
Adherence and efficacy of supervised versus non-supervised treatment with artemether/lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Bangladesh: a randomised controlled trial
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
(2008) - et al.
Pre-referral rectal artesunate to prevent death and disability in severe malaria: a placebo-controlled trial
Lancet
(2009) Therapeutic orchids: traditional uses and recent advances–an overview
Fitoterapia
(2011)
'Every mother is a mini-doctor': ethnomedicinal uses of fish, shellfish and some other aquatic animals in Bangladesh
J Ethnopharmacol
Chloroquine resistant plasmodium falciparum in Bangladesh
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
Drug-resistant plasmodium falciparum infection in immigrants and non-immune travelers
Clin Microbiol Infect
Efficacy of combined chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Bangladesh
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
High prevalence of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine resistance alleles in plasmodium falciparum parasites from Bangladesh
Parasitol Int
Efficacy of chloroquine plus primaquine treatment and pfcrt mutation in uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients in Rangamati, Bangladesh
Parasitol Int
Malaria in pregnancy in the Asia-pacific region
Lancet Infect Dis
Review of genetic diversity in malaria vectors (culicidae: anophelinae)
Infect Genet Evol
The origin of malignant malaria
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
World malaria report
Malaria in southeast Bangladesh: a descriptive study
Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull
Prevalence of anopheline species and their Plasmodium infection status in epidemic-prone border areas of Bangladesh
Malar J
Malaria prevalence in endemic districts of Bangladesh
PLoS One
Susceptibility of the malaria vectors to insecticides in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull
Diagnosis and management of febrile children using the WHO/UNICEF guidelines for IMCI in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bull World Health Organ
Hospital-based prevalence of malaria and dengue in febrile patients in Bangladesh
Am J Trop Med Hyg
Knowledge on the transmission, prevention and treatment of malaria among two endemic populations of Bangladesh and their health-seeking behaviour
Malar J
Real-time PCR assay and rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of clinically suspected malaria patients in Bangladesh
Malar J
Progress and challenges to control malaria in a remote area of Chittagong hill tracts
Bangladesh Malar J
Spatial prediction of malaria prevalence in an endemic area of Bangladesh
Malar J
Mapping hypoendemic, seasonal malaria in rural Bandarban, Bangladesh: a prospective surveillance
Malar J
Malaria prevalence, risk factors and spatial distribution in a hilly forest area of Bangladesh
PLoS One
Differing health and health-seeking behaviour: ethnic minorities of the Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh
Asia Pac J Public Health
The role of age, ethnicity and environmental factors in modulating malaria risk in Rajasthali, Bangladesh
Malar J
World health statistics
Indigenous Plasmodium ovale malaria in Bangladesh
Am J Trop Med Hyg
The recent malaria situation in Chittagong, Bangladesh
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Drug resistance in plasmodium falciparum from the Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh
Trop Med Int Health
Malaria epidemiology along indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura state, India
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
First case of detection of Plasmodium knowlesi in Spain by real time PCR in a traveller from southeast Asia
Malar J
Review of cases with the emerging fifth human malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi
Clin Infect Dis
Morphological features and differential counts of Plasmodium knowlesi parasites in naturally acquired human infections
Malar J
Detection of malaria parasites in mosquitoes from the malaria-endemic area of Chakaria, Bangladesh
Biol Pharm Bull
Population structure and population history of Anopheles dirus mosquitoes in southeast Asia
Mol Biol Evol
Incrimination of Anopheles vagus donitz, 1902 as an epidemic malaria vector in Bangladesh
Indian J Malariol
A survey of larval and adult mosquitoes on the flood plains of Bangladesh, in relation to flood-control activities
Ann Trop Med Parasitol
Incrimination of Anopheles aconitus donitz as a vector of epidemic malaria in Bangladesh
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Incrimination of Anopheles annularis van der wulp-1854 as an epidemic malaria vector in Bangladesh
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Cited by (12)
Severe and benign Plasmodium vivax malaria in Emberá (Amerindian) children and adolescents from an endemic municipality in Western Colombia
2016, Journal of Infection and Public HealthCitation Excerpt :Tropical areas below 1500 m.a.s.l. in the country are ecologically suitable for the presence of vector species of Anopheles [13]. In addition, the social conditions, especially domestic mobility, represent today important issues for clinical diagnosis and treatment of malaria in Colombia, as in other countries [14], especially in children [15]. The clinical profile that is exhibited in malaria between adults and children tends to be different, especially in complicated cases [16].
Malaria diagnostic methods with the elimination goal in view
2022, Parasitology ResearchChallenging Experience with Severe Complicated Malaria in the City of Dhaka
2022, Journal of Medicine (Bangladesh)A scoping review of selected studies on predictor variables associated with the malaria status among children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa
2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health