Mohammad Iqbal Yasinzai, Juma Khan Kakarsulemankhel.
Prevalence of human malaria infection in district Jhal Magsi of Balochistan.
Rawal Med J Jan ;37(1):9-12.

Objective: To study the prevalence of malarial infections in human population of district Jhal Magsi district of Pakistan. Patients and Methods: Malarial parasites were identified in the blood slides of suspected patients from July, 2006 to June, 2008, and included 3402 subjects. Results: Out of these 3402 cases, 1189 (34.9%) were found to be positive for malarial parasite. Out of 1189 positive cases, 773 (65%) were identified as Plasmodium vivax, and 416 (34.9%) with P. falciparum. Seasonal variation was noted with the highest (71.6%: 96/134) infection of P. vivax in March and lowest (54%: 40/74) in September. The prevalence was higher (65.3%) in males. No case of P. malariae and P. ovale detected. Conclusion: Human Malaria was quite frequent in Jhal Magsi area, which is the hottest area s of Balochistan in Pakistan. The high prevalence rate 65% of P. vivax poses a significant health hazard but 34.9% of P. falciparum also may lead to serious complications like cerebral malaria. The high frequency of Human malaria infection should be of great concern for authorities at malaria control program in Pakistan. (Rawal Med J 2012;37:9-12).

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