Mining-Associated Malaria Epidemics

Abstract

Tropical alluvial gold and gem miners are often an especially at-risk population for malaria infection. Geographical areas of mining-associated malaria epidemics in the recent past include Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar); the Amazon basin (Brazil, French Guyana, Suriname, Columbia, and Peru); and tropical Africa. Mobile populations of young adult men engaged in the hard labor of mining may experience severe malaria especially if they lack preexisting immunity and are irregularly consuming antimalarial drugs. Particular problems occur because much of this informal mining activity is illegal and done in isolated areas without access to health services and with evidence of emerging antimalarial drug resistance. Concentrating vulnerable populations in an ecologically disturbed landscape is often conducive to epidemics, which can then spread as these highly mobile workers return to their homes. Mining-associated malaria endangers malaria elimination efforts and miners need to be addressed as a group of particular concern.

Malaria Resilience in South America: Epidemiology, Vector Biology, and Immunology Insights from the Amazonian International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Network in Peru and Brazil

“… 22 , 32 , 65 Very few asymptomatic infections that are left untreated will eventually progress to clinical disease and become detectable by malaria surveillance. 11 , 12 As asymptomatic infections tend to cluster around malaria cases detected by passive surveillance, 13 reactive case detection may be an efficient way of detecting additional infections that are missed by routine case finding.…”

“…[10][11][12][13][14] In addition, illegal gold mining activities have contributed to further forest removal and malaria transmission. [10][11][12][13][14] Climatic conditions, also affected by the reduction of the forest cover, have been changing and the number of extreme weather events has intensified, with more than a dozen in the past 25 years-for example, climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean (El Niño and La Niña) and extreme droughts or rains not associated with the Pacific. Human mobility related to mining, other resource exploitation, land settlement, and a network of connections among cities and agricultural areas is intense and contributes to the circulation of parasites with ever-changing dynamic microgeographic introductions and reintroductions.…”

“… 2 – 9 Deforestation and other destruction of natural habitat in the Amazon region have increased in the past 5 years, mostly due to illegal exploitation of natural resources. 10 – 14 In addition, illegal gold mining activities have contributed to further forest removal and malaria transmission. 10 – 14 Climatic conditions, also affected by the reduction of the forest cover, have been changing and the number of extreme weather events has intensified, with more than a dozen in the past 25 years—for example, climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean (El Niño and La Niña) and extreme droughts or rains not associated with the Pacific.…”

Historical gold mining infectious disease epidemics

“…Yet this is not just about faded history as even today economically marginalised groups perceive hidden mineral wealth as one of their few hopes to escape abject poverty. Malaria epidemics driven by informal mining operations are public health problems globally and transient mining populations have seriously complicated malaria elimination efforts in Latin America and Asia 21 . As long as gold retains its mystical ability to excite men to unrealistic hopes of wealth and unreasoned acceptance of lethal risks, we may still hear of infectious disease epidemics outside Australia associated with alluvial gold mining operations.…”

A cross-sectional study investigating malaria prevalence and associated predictors of infection among migrants to a newly established gold mining settlement in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia

“…Unlike government or company sponsored migrants, independent migrants may be particularly affected by this as they will not have access to company provided sleeping quarters or malaria prevention and treatment options, which companies occasionally provide. People living in emerging settlements, especially those orientated around extractive industries, may also be simultaneously more vulnerable to many health issues (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), including malaria(18-20), whilst also experiencing poorer access to healthcare resources (20). This research investigates the burden of malaria and correlates of malaria infection in a newly formed gold mining settlement, Lunga, located in Gambella Region-one of the most malarious regions of Ethiopia (31).…”