An Alarming New Development - Malaria

A new threat has emerged as the flood recedes.  Malaria is increasing every day as the water makes way for mud and mosquitoes.  World Health Organization (WHO) experts say malaria cases in three Pakistan provinces - Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh, are increasing at an alarming rate.  Half of the 60,000 cases reported on August 23 were detected in just six days.  Reports from the a district hospital in Muzaffargarh are that 30% of all new patients admitted are suffering from Malaria.

In response to increasing disease, 21 diarrhea disease centers operating, through funding from USAID/OFDA, in affected districts of KPK, Punjab and Sindh provinces.  On August 23, 2010, out of the 101,925 patients treated in the flood affected districts, 5% (n=4,966) of cases was related to malaria.  Also, the number of cases of suspected malaria is rising in Balochistan and Sindh provinces compared to KPK and Punjab.  During the last 24 hours, the number of cases reported from suspected malaria comprised 17% of patients' consultations in Balochistan and 11% in Sindh.  Sadly, this trend is likely to increase dramatically over the coming days.

Men load medicine from a WHO warehouse in Islamabad.  WHO has delivered medicine and supplied to treate about 2 million people.  But more is still needed.

What is Malaria?  

Etiology (cause):  A parasite that's transmitted by mosquito bites.
Symptoms:  moderate to severe shaking chills, high fever, profuse sweating, flu-like symptoms, and anemia
Diagnosis: malaria blood smear (look at it under the microscope!), enlarged liver or spleen (because that's where the parasite goes first before it enters the bloodstream and into red blood cells. 
Treatment:  Chloroquine, Quinine sulfate, Hydroxychloroquine, Mefloquine, combo of Atovaquone and Proguanil.  Resistance has lead to drugs being ineffective. 
- No vaccine yet - still under research

I know I'm going overboard with the medicine stuff.  The key is that malaria is a major disease hazard in warm climates.  The CDC estimates that 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan has been classified with a moderate malaria prevalence.  The disease causes at least 50,000 deaths out of an estimated 500,000 reported cases of malaria each year.  The flooding and unhygienic conditions has the potential to cause an epidemic. 

What you can do:  donate to the World Health Organization (www.who.org) so that more medications can be sent to Pakistan.  Also, donate to Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org). 

Stay tuned as I'll do a similar assessment of cholera --- an imminent threat.