[Malaria in Azerbaijan]

Rapid deterioration of the malaria situation set in after 1990, when 22 cases were reported. The number increased to 667 in 1994, 2840 in 1995 and reached 13,135 in 1996. The main reason for the deterioration was a sharp worsening of socioeconomic conditions and the displacement of nearly one million people from war-stricken zones. With international assistance from WHO, ENI (Italy), MSF (Belgium), the Ministry of Health resumed limited malaria control activities: in 1997, 9911 cases were officially reported and 5175 cases in 1998. Approximately half of malaria cases were reported from seven districts: Nachishivan (10.4%), Imishli (14.6%), Fizuli (8.1%), Sabirabad (6.8%), Saatly (6%), Bejlagan (5.6%) and Bilasuvar (4.8%). 1737 malaria cases were detected during 7 months of 1999, 4007 cases were reported during 7 months of 1998.