Epidemiology of Malaria in Kashan

ABSTRACT Every year in the city of Kashan various number of cases of malaria has been observed. Determination of the prevalence of the disease and the carriers in this area of the country can play a significant role in employing preventive measure as well as in managing logistic services. Through applying retrospective descriptive methods and based on the statistics reported from the Center of Communicable Disease in Kashan, we found 498 cases of disease reported to the health centers from Farwardin 1365 to Aban 1376, and a type of species of malaria parasite were detected in their blood smear. From the total number of cases, 85% of those identified as positive were Afghan immigrants, and 5% were other Iranian immigrants who came to Kashan from the infected areas. 91% of the cases were male and 9% were female. 77.7% of the malaria cases were identified as being infected by P. vivax, 16.1% by P. falsiparum, 6% by Mix infection, and one case by P. malariae. The age group 20-29 included the majority of the cases (46.4%) The least infected agegroup belonged to the age 50 and over (3%). The range of infection for age included a 2year old boy to a 70-year old woman. Four cases of recurring in patients infected by P. vivax was observed. Based on entomological studies in this city, at least three type of anopheline mosquitoes, An. claviger, An. multiculor and An. superpictus, have been identified. An. superpictus that is identified as a carrier in Iran, is active in some locations of this city from Ordibehesht to Aban. The distribution of larvae and adult An. superpictus in the area exceeds the distribution of any other types. The adult of this type of anopheline mosquito has been captured in both human and animal residing places in Khordad and Mehr. The available statistics, indicates that malaria at the present time is not a serious health problem, but mean while, considering the availablitiy the vector chains, malaria in this city,must be under close scrutiny, cases must be identified, treatment must be used, and more serious entomology check and spraying poison of breeding sites than before must be done.