Analysis of Malaria Epidemic Features in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Southeast of Iran, 2005-2008

Background: An essential determinant for designing accurate strategies in malaria control is the precise knowledge of local epidemiology, which is time and location dependent. This study was designed to analyze the data on the verified malaria cases, reported in the southeast Province of Iran, Sistan and Baluchistan, from March 2005 to 2008. Methods: All the reported cases of malaria in the mentioned period were defined and epidemiologic characteristics of each case were registered and statistically analyzed. Results: The annual incidence rates were 469, 345, and 359 (per 100000) in the 3 consecutive years, respectively. Malaria patients were mainly 15-44 year old males, mostly living in the rural areas. Imported malaria from Afghanistan and Pakistan was considerable (15-20%). While malaria was more prevalent in the southern part of the province, the percentage of Plasmodium falciparum was higher in the western areas. The incidence of malaria reached its annual peak from July to October. Conclusion: This study clearly reveals that malaria is a significant disease in southeast Iran. The geographic pattern may implicate an important role of cross-border traffic in the importation of malaria in this area.