Studies on malaria transmission in Orissa state: Part I. Development of a methodology for systematic studies

Standardized collections of Anopheles were conducted by three Entomology Field Investigation Units (FIU's) working in three distinctively different areas of Orissa State. The FIU's conducted identical routine weekly work schedules in each of 12 mesoendemic or hyperendemic study villages every month. In addition, monthly house-to-house fever case surveys were conducted in each study village and biannual malariometric surveys were carried out with the timing being shifted, so that eventually all seasons were included. Such complete, extensive and meticulous entomological and epidemiological data have not been obtained earlier from this area. In fact, until the present longitudinal data became available, it was necessary to rely upon information which was gathered some 40 years ago, when environmental conditions were substantially different. The ensuing article describes the methodology that was employed to establish these systematic studies.