TWO CASES OF MALARIA REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 4-5 YEARS

ARMENPRESS
Aug 21, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian doctors have registered only
two cases of malaria in the last 4-5 years. Ara Asoyan, the chief
doctor of Nork isolation hospital, said the diseases was diagnosed with
two Armenian citizens who were home after spending some time in Africa.

For centuries, malaria was wide spread in many regions of Armenia,
especially in Ararat valley.

Intensive malaria control measures in Soviet Armenia led to complete
eradication of the disease by 1963.

Malaria-free status was maintained till 1990s.

After 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
situation became critical in terms of maintaining a malaria-free
status. The epidemic of malaria in 1994 was attributed in part to poor
socio-economic conditions in the country, resulting in disruption
of public health infrastructure and re-emergence of some infectious
diseases, including malaria.

In 1994, 196 malaria cases among military personnel were reported in
the country. In 1995, the number of imported cases increased to 502. In
the next year, 149 cases out of 347 were reported as autochthonous.

According to health authorities, during 1997-1998, the number of
reported cases (imported and autochthonous) continued to rise, and
a total of 1,156 cases were reported in 1998.

Malaria situation started to improve in 1999, when 616 Plasmodium vivax
cases were reported, of which 376 were from Masis district. In 2000,
the number of malaria cases (imported and autochthonous) continued to
decline and came to 140. There was a further decrease in the number
of reported malaria cases in 2001- 2005.

There is a plan of actions calling for effective prevention and
control measures to eliminate malaria completely by 2010.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress