Malaria risk assessment for the Republic of Korea based on models of mosquito distribution

Data on climate, environment, and adult and larval mosquito collection sites throughout the Republic of Korea (ROK) were used to model the potential distribution of the 8 anopheline species known to occur there. These models were overlaid on predicted areas of malaria suitability to better define the distribution of malaria risk in the ROK. The concept of the "mal-area"- an area of co-occurrence of humans, parasites and vectors, where malaria transmission is possible-is explained. Quantification of the mal-area in the vicinity of 5 military installations in the north of the country suggested that they had very different malaria risks, depending on what the vector species were, and the method of calculation. An online mal-area calculator for malaria risk assessment (currently under development) is discussed.