The changing serological profile of hepatitis A in Victoria, Australia: a comparison of three time points

Abstract

Background: Pakistan had country’s history worst floods in August 2010 and water surrounding populated areas added mosquito breeding sites hence, increased malariogenic potential. Pakistan in control phaseofMalaria eradicationefforts, in year2009 reported 167579 confirmedMalaria cases.MuzafarGarhwas one of theworst flood hit districtwhere 1420Malaria caseswere reported by September in year 2010. We analysed Malaria surveillance data from a tehsil of District Muzafar Garh. Methods: All the public sector hospitals of tehsil Ali Pur, having Malaria investigation facilities from Aug-Nov, 2010 have contributed data in this data review study. To know flood’s effects on potential increase in malaria incidence, previous year’s data for similar months is taken as baseline figures. Database was prepared in Microsoft Excel and data analysis was performed using Epiinfo software version 3.5.1®. Results: Though after even after floods, Malaria endemicity is of low transmission level (<1 per 1000 persons), yet there is four times increased confirmed cases in year 2010 as compared to year 2009. From Aug to Nov Slide positive rate (SPR) increased from 18 to 26% compared to 18 to 16% a year prior and Falciparum positive cases rate climbed from 18% in 2009 to 34% in 2010. Majority of the patients (71%) are from rural areas, while most of them are male (61%) and are of 15-49 year age group. Conclusion: Though overall endemicity is at low transmission level, yet there is rise in other indicators like SPR and Falciparum positive cases from previous baseline of 20% and 30% respectively. Disease burden may be even higher as private sector and people taking over the counter treatment are not part of abovementioned figures. Use of Rapid diagnostic tests, preventive strategies like mass drug administration as prophylaxis, and insecticide treated nets may help lessen the disease burden.