Investigation of an outbreak of malaria in a non- endemic coastal area, Kerala, Southern India

Abstract

Kerala, the southernmost state in India, had been declared as malaria eradicated as early as in 1965. But imported and sporadic malaria used to occur even thereafter. Recently an increasing trend of both imported and indigenous malaria cases were observed in the State. [1][2][3] Number of malaria cases reported to the official disease surveillance system of Kerala state from the year 2012 to 2015 are 2036,1634, 1549 and 1751. 1,2 The causes of resurgence of malaria in Kerala are rather complex and includes interstate travel, importation of cases from other states, increased migration of laborers from other states, urbanization, absence of organized preventive public health system in urban areas and overloaded health system at peripheral level. 3,4 Kollam district is situated on the south west coast of Kerala. The numbers of malaria cases reported from the year 2012 to 2015 from Kollam district are 108, 82, 78,