Anopheles dirus and its role in malaria transmission in Myanmar

Anopheles dirus is one of the primary vectors of highly drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, which causes cerebral malaria resulting in high mortality. Mosquito collections were conducted in a forest wood-extraction area (Bago Division), an irrigated plain area near foothills (Mandalay Division), a coastal plain (from domestic wells in the Mudon area, Mon State) near the foothill area, as well as a hilly area (deep forest timber extraction camp, Tanintharyi Division) from May 1998 to March 2000. This study examined adult bionomics of An. dirus and its relationship to malaria transmission as an aid in the control of malaria in different ecological settings in these particular regions. Within these areas, Mudon, Mon State, has a high incidence of malaria. To investigate this malaria, blood smear examinations were conducted among the local people in Mudon, Mon State. During the study period, malaria blood smear slide-positive rates ranged between 9.9% and 34.28% throughout the year. The ultimate goal of these studies was to help in formulating an improved malaria control program involving microbial control agents in this area.