Abstract:

Objective To analyze epidemiological characteristics of malaria in China in 2016 so as to provide evidence-based proof for target interventions on malaria elimination. Methods The data of Malaria Annual Reporting System in 2016 were collected. And the epidemic situation, regional distribution, species composition, diagnosis type and infection source were analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2010 software. Results Totally 3 321 malaria cases were reported in 687 counties of 30 Provinces/Municipalities/Autonomous Regions (P/M/As) in 2016, which was increased by 1.0% compared with that in 2015(3 288). The cases were reported primarily from Provinces of Yunnan (12.4%, 413/3 321), Sichuan (9.8%, 327/3 321), Jiangsu (9.3%, 308/3 321), Guangxi (9.2%, 305/3 321) and Shandong (7.7%, 256/3 321). Of all the cases, 3(0.1%, 3/3 321) P. vivax cases were indigenous, from Yingjiang county of Yunnan (2) and Chayu county of Tibet (1). Meanwhile, 3 317 (99.9%, 3 317/3 321) cases distributed in the 30 P/M/As. A transfusion-transmitted P. falciparum case was reported in Jiangsu Province. In addition, 15 (0.5%, 15/3 321) cases were diagnosed clinically, and 3 306 (99.5%, 3 306/3 321) of the reported cases were confirmed in reference laboratories, comprising 712 P. vivax cases(21.5%, 712/3 306) , 2 158 P. falciparum cases (65.3%, 2 158/3 306), 64 P. malariae cases (1.9%, 64/3 306), 311 P. ovale cases (9.4%, 311/3 306) and 61 mixed-infection cases(1.8%, 61/3 306). Furthermore, 185 cases (5.6%, 185/3 321) with severe clinical symptoms were reported in 14 P/M/As, with 15 deaths (0.5%, 15/3 321) in 8 P/M/As. Conclusion The local transmission of malaria has been effectively controlled, though malaria elimination in the border areas of Yunnan Province and Linzhi Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region are still challenging. It is needed to strengthen the monitoring and management of imported cases, and to make risk assessment for possible malaria re-transmission.

Key words: China, Malaria, Annual incidence