Effects of immigration on malaria incidence and its foci classification

Introduction: Population movement and immigration from malarious areas to non endemic will increase the risk of malaria transmission. Immigration could be lead to role back malaria and changing clear up to potential even residual active foci. The purpose of this study is the effect of foreign immigrant on the malaria incidence and focal malaria classification in Konarak County, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive- analytic study, the number of malaria patients in the villages of Jahliyan region during the 2005 to 2009 were classified. The region located on the route of foreign immigration of the east country and borderline of Pakistan. Descriptive statistics and t-test was used for analysis. Results: The presence of foreign immigrants lead to increasing Annual Parasite Incidence (API) in 2008 than 2005 – 2007 and changes the focal malaria classification in the villages. So that some clear up foci changed to residual active. A significant difference between the number of malaria cases in the villages in 2006 and 2008 and also between 2007 and 2008 was observed. Conclusion: According to this research, the major cause of malaria cases increase and change in malaria focal classification in the villages was presence of foreign immigrants. The national malaria elimination program emphasizes on development and keeping of clear up foci. So the presence of foreign immigrants is critical point in this program.