Assessment and authentication of malaria elimination in Changzhou City

Abstract

To analyze the results of assessment and authentication of malaria elimination of 7 county-level cities and districts in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and explore the suitable monitoring methods for malaria after the elimination in this region, so as to provide the evidence for formulating and adjusting the malaria elimination strategies and measures. The data from the network reports of malaria epidemic situation, blood examinations of febrile patients, epidemiological questionnaires of malaria cases, investigation of epidemic focuses and disposal tables were collected and analyzed in Changzhou City from 2009 to 2014. The clinicians were assessed with the closed-book written examinations for their ability of the diagnosis and treatment of malaria. The inspection personnel were assessed by the microscopical examinations of Plasmodium. Totally 30 negative blood slides were reviewed. In the natural village where the last local case of malaria was located, 200 blood filter papers were collected for gene detection of Plasmodium. From 2009 to 2014, 145 malaria cases were reported in Changzhou City. Totally 170 638 febrile patients received blood detections for malaria, of which 137 cases were positive and the positive rate was 0.08%. The majority of malaria cases were imported except 8 local malaria infection cases in 2009 and 2 local malaria infection cases in 2010. Four of seven county-level cities (districts) gained an average score of 20 points on the microscopical examinations of Plasmodium. Liyang City got a minimum average score of 18.8 points. In capacity assessment of malaria diagnosis and treatment, Liyang City gained the highest average score of 19.8 points, and Qishuyan District got the lowest average score of 18.0 points. The malaria elimination assessment scores of the 7 county-level cities (districts) were all above 93 points. Four county-level cities (districts) (Xinbei District, Wujin District, Liyang City, and Jintan City) carried out the active case detections. A total of 731 cases were detected and the results were all negative. Liyang City in 2012, Zhonglou District and Jintan City in 2013, Tianning District, Qishuyan District, Xinbei District and Wujin District in 2014, passed the malaria elimination assessment at county (district) level, respectively. All the 7 county-level cities (districts) of Changzhou City have passed the malaria elimination assessment at a high score. After the malaria elimination, the monitoring should continue to consolidate the achievements.