Cross-border malaria in the triple border region between Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana

Abstract

The state of Roraima, in Brazil, has recently seen an increase in the number of reported Plasmodium falciparum infections believed to be imported from neighboring countries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium species among patients attending malaria health posts in Roraima and quantify the infections attributable to imported malaria. This cross-sectional case study was carried out between March 2016 and September 2018. Study participants were recruited as they exited the malaria health post. Information about residence, occupation and travel history was collected using a questionnaire. A dried blood spot was collected and used for malaria diagnosis by PCR. A total of 1222 patients were enrolled. Of the 80% Plasmodium positive samples, 50% were P. falciparum, 34% P. vivax, 8% mixed P. falciparum/P. vivax and 0.2% mixed P. falciparum/P. ovale infections and 8% tested positive for Plasmodium, but the species could not be identified. 80% of the malaria patients likely acquired infections in Venezuela and the remaining 20% acquired in Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and French Guyana. 50% of the study participants reported to be working in a mine. Results from this study support the hypothesis that imported malaria contribute to the bulk of malaria diagnosed in Roraima. These findings are in keeping with previous findings and should be considered when developing malaria control interventions.

The contribution of risk perception and social norms to reported preventive behaviour against selected vector-borne diseases in Guyana

“…These figures reflect the available information on the epidemiology of the infections and the dissemination of information to the population. As reported in a previous study, malaria was on the rise between 2016 and 2017, with the number of yearly cases being around 13,000 19 and there is also evidence of increasing incidence at the borders between Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela 52 . The number of cases detected is far lower for dengue and ZIKV and even lower for CL.…”

Spatial Overlap Between Latent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection and Venezuelan Migrants

“…The study was carried out in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, and used a multi-group ecological design. Roraima is located in the extreme north of Brazil and is considered a triple border, having as its limits the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Federative Republic of Guyana 12 .…”

Border malaria: defining the problem to address the challenge of malaria elimination

“…The challenge posed by international land borders to disease elimination is not unique to malaria, discussed extensively in eradication of smallpox, polio, guinea worm disease and the elimination of other neglected tropical diseases [ 12 – 15 ]. It is neither limited to countries that only had very low malaria transmission [ 16 ]. However, the high prevalence of the border problem in the last stage of malaria elimination and its persistence over time remain striking and intriguing.…”