Historical Patterns of Malaria Transmission in China

Liu

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

et al. 2016

Abstract. The surveillance and response system remains one of the biggest challenges to malaria elimination along the China-Myanmar border. In China, "1-3-7" approach was developed to guide elimination activities according to the National Malaria Elimination Program, which is a simplified set of targets that delineates responsibilities and actions. The time frame of the approach has been incorporated into the nationwide web-based disease reporting system: 1, case reporting within 1 day after diagnosis; 3, case investigation within 3 days; and 7, focus investigation and action within 7 days. Herein, the data on malaria cases in 2005-2014 and after the "1-3-7" implementation in 2013-2014 of the 18 counties at the China-Myanmar border are reviewed and analyzed. Results showed that the total cases decreased while the proportion of imported cases rose. The "1-3-7" was well executed, except for the "3" indicator, which was 96.3% accomplished on average in the 18 border counties, but needs to be further strengthened. More efforts are highlighted for timely and accurate case detection as well as proactive mapping of disease transmission hot spots to facilitate the elimination of border malaria.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Malaria Elimination: Monitoring and Evaluation of the “1-3-7” Approach at the China–Myanmar Border

Liu

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

et al. 2016

“…Owing to its substantial public health importance, a Malaria Control Programme was initiated in 1955 [7]. Since then, the malaria burden has greatly declined [8, 9], but it has remained a serious public health problem in China with periodic outbreaks [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and space–time distribution of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in China, 2005–2014

Hundessa

Williams

et al. 2016

Malar J

BackgroundDespite the declining burden of malaria in China, the disease remains a significant public health problem with periodic outbreaks and spatial variation across the country. A better understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of malaria is essential for consolidating the disease control and elimination programme. This study aims to understand the spatial and spatiotemporal distribution of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in China during 2005–2009.MethodsGlobal Moran’s I statistics was used to detect a spatial distribution of local P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria at the county level. Spatial and space–time scan statistics were applied to detect spatial and spatiotemporal clusters, respectively.ResultsBoth P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria showed spatial autocorrelation. The most likely spatial cluster of P. vivax was detected in northern Anhui province between 2005 and 2009, and western Yunnan province between 2010 and 2014. For P. falciparum, the clusters included several counties of western Yunnan province from 2005 to 2011, Guangxi from 2012 to 2013, and Anhui in 2014. The most likely space–time clusters of P. vivax malaria and P. falciparum malaria were detected in northern Anhui province and western Yunnan province, respectively, during 2005–2009.ConclusionThe spatial and space–time cluster analysis identified high-risk areas and periods for both P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria. Both malaria types showed significant spatial and spatiotemporal variations. Contrary to P. vivax, the high-risk areas for P. falciparum malaria shifted from the west to the east of China. Further studies are required to examine the spatial changes in risk of malaria transmission and identify the underlying causes of elevated risk in the high-risk areas.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1646-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

“…It is widely accepted that the R&D on malaria drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics is not only essential for epidemic areas, but also crucial for countries moving towards elimination [24, 25]. Indeed, significant R&D achievements have been made during the past few decades, such as ACTs, RDTs, and the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine [4, 26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This decrease may be the result of falling national support for malaria R&D after the burden of the disease has decreased in China [24]. Though prophylactic chemotherapy was suggested in high-transmission settings, the increasing cases of imported malaria from Southeast Asian and African countries have resulted in the spread of antimalarial drug resistances in China [24]. In addition, though most R&D activities focused on P. falciparum , regions of China are showing a predominance of P. vivax [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic trends in malaria research and development in China and its global influence

et al. 2017

BackgroundThough many countries, including China, are moving towards malaria elimination, malaria remains a major global health threat. Due to the spread of antimalarial drug resistance and the need for innovative medical products during the elimination phase, further research and development (R&D) of innovative tools in both epidemic and elimination areas is needed. This study aims to identify the trends and gaps in malaria R&D in China, and aims to offer suggestions on how China can be more effectively involved in global malaria R&D.MethodsQuantitative analysis was carried out by collecting data on Chinese malaria-related research programmes between 1985 and 2014, invention patents in China from 1985 to 2014, and articles published by Chinese researchers in PubMed and Chinese databases from 2005 to 2014. All data were screened and extracted for numerical analysis and were categorized into basic sciences, drug/drug resistance, immunology/vaccines, or diagnostics/detection for chronological and subgroup comparisons.ResultsThe number of malaria R&D activities have shown a trend of increase during the past 30 years, however these activities have fluctuated within the past few years. During the past 10 years, R&D on drug/drug resistance accounted for the highest percentages of research programmes (32.4%), articles (55.0% in PubMed and 50.6% in Chinese databases) and patents (45.5%). However, these R&D activities were mainly related to artemisinin. R&D on immunology/vaccines has been a continuous interest for China’s public entities, but the focus remains on basic science. R&D in the area of high-efficiency diagnostics has been rarely seen or reported in China.ConclusionsChina has long been devoted to malaria R&D in multiple areas, including drugs, drug resistance, immunology and vaccines. R&D on diagnostics has received significantly less attention, however, it should also be an area where China can make a contribution. More focus on malaria R&D is needed, especially in the area of diagnostics, if China would like to contribute in a more significant way to global malaria control and elimination.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-016-0222-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.