[Malaria Situation in the People' s Republic of China in 2014]

The 2014 malaria epidemiological data reported through the annual malaria statistics reporting system were collected and analyzed. A total of 3 078 malaria cases were reported in 680 counties of 30 Provinces/ Municipalities/Autonomous Regions (P/M/A)(except Inner Mongolia) in 2014, decreased by 25.4% compared with the 4 128 cases in 2013. The incidence rate was 0.022 6/10 000. More cases distributed in Yunnan (17.3%, 533/3 078), Jiangsu (11.5%, 355/3 078), Sichuan (8.6%, 266/3 078), Henan (7.0%, 216/3 078) and Zhejiang (7.0%, 215/3 078) Provinces. Of all the cases, 56 (1.8%) were indigenous cases, mainly from the border area of Yunnan (comprising 9 counties) and the Tibet Autonomous Region (one county). Locally-infected falciparum malaria was only found in Yingjiang County (4 cases) and Cangyuan County (2 cases) of Yunnan. Indigenous malaria prevalence was of over 1/10 000 in Motuo County and Yingjiang County. There were 3 021 abroad-imported cases of malaria (98.1% ), which widely distributed in the 30 P/M/As. In addition, one case of quartan malaria with long latency was reported' in Guangdong Province. Of all the reported cases, 3 057 (99.3%) were further confirmed by plasmodium species, comprising 846 cases of vivax malaria (27.7%), 1 882 cases of falciparum malaria (61.6%), 3 cases of quartan malaria (1.7%), 231 cases of ovale malaria (7.6%), 44 cases of mixed infections, and one case of P. knowlesi malaria. Furthermore, 170 cases (5.5%) with severe conditions were reported in 16 P/M/As, and 25 deaths were reported in 15 P/M/As. In summary, remarkable achievements have been made in eliminating malaria in China, despite increases in imported cases. The border areas of Yunnan and Motuo County of Tibet Autonomous Region remain the key regions for malaria elimination. Efforts are needed to reinforce the management of imported cases and the treatment of complicated malaria.