Water & Health
Malaria outbreak in a ‘ protected ’ zone of Madagascar
( PORT LOUIS ) A new study has found an unexpected malaria outbreak in a population that has benefitted from large-scale malaria prevention and control measures .
The study conducted during the rainy season in 2011- 2012 in south-eastern Madagascar found that the infection rate of the malaria parasites was 25.6 per cent despite the population having been protected due to acquired immunity against the disease .
According to the study published in February 2016 in the Malaria Journal , researchers randomly selected 440 households with 1,615 members who were at least six months old .
thousands of lives , adding that other high-transmission areas in Sub-Saharan Africa could be at risk of outbreaks if control interventions are not correctly sustained .
Ambicaduth Bheecarry , a medical entomologist and head of the Vector Biology and Control Division in Mauritius ’ Ministry of Health , says the findings are of interest to Mauritius “ as the island is only a two-hour flight from Madagascar ”. Bheecarry tells SciDev . Net : “ It ’ ll be very easy for us to get infected if the virus reaches our shores because we are surrounded by the malaria vector — mosquitoes .”
Arsène Ratsimbasoa , director of Madagascar ’ s Direction de Lutte Contre le Paludisme , notes that prevention against malaria is being strengthened through interventions such as distribution of long-lasting bed nets although there are challenges .
“ We are confronted with some difficulties as some of the areas are landlocked ,” Ratsimbasoa says .
Source : SciDev . Net ’ s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk .
How can water-related diseases be prevented during emergencies ?
Malaria outbreak in a ‘ protected ’ zone of Madagascar
The researchers used rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and collected rainfall and temperature data by remote climatic sensing during the rainy season .
They found that the mean bed net use on the day before the survey was 71.1 per cent and that the prevalence of the disease was higher in six to 14-year-old children in rural areas .
According to the researchers , the outbreak may have been caused by increased rainfall , decreasing use and reduced effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets , and drug shortages .
Thomas Kesteman , an epidemiologist at the Malaria Research Unit , Institut Pasteur de Madagascar , who led the study , tells SciDev . Net that malaria outbreaks normally occur in zones of low transmission because people are not immune to the disease .
” The surprise here was to observe one in a zone of high transmission where people are supposed to have developed immunity ,” says Kesteman . “ Some of the factors that contributed to the present outbreak were not modifiable , such as increase in rainfall , but others including supply in anti-malarial drugs were .”
Kesteman stresses that malaria control interventions must be sustained in high-transmission zones because they save
The three top priorities concerning drinking water and sanitation during an emergency situation are :
• ensuring the provision of enough safe water for drinking and for personal hygiene to the people affected by the crisis ;
• ensuring that all people affected by the crisis have access to hygienic sanitation facilities ;
• promoting good hygiene behaviours .
Following damage to existing sanitation systems or increased pressure due to large numbers of displaced or homeless people , effective and well-coordinated action by all those involved in the emergency response is critical .
The first priority is to provide a sufficient quantity of water , even if its safety cannot be guaranteed , and to protect water sources from contamination . A minimum of 15 litres per person per day should be provided as soon as possible . During emergencies , people may use untreated water for laundry or bathing . Water-quality improvements should be made over succeeding days or weeks as a matter of urgency .
Inadequate disposal of human excreta is a major health risk in emergency situations . It is essential to organize sanitation facilities immediately , such as designated defecation fields or collective trench latrines . Emergency facilities need to be progressively improved or replaced with simple pit latrines , ventilated improved pit latrines , or poor-flush latrines as the situation develops . All types of latrines need to be properly cleaned , disinfected and maintained .
32 Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • May - June 2016