[Malaria in the islands of the Comoro archipelago. Historical and geophysical aspects. Epidemiologic considerations]

Located on the maritime road to India, important harbour during slavery period, Comoro Archipelago was therefore free of malaria in the XVIIth century in spite of the presence of infected persons. In the XIXth century, malaria became endemic in Mayotte, Mohéli and Anjouan but only at the beginning of the XXth century in Grande Comore. The origin of vectors and main parasite, P. falciparum, are african. After quite a "natural" evolution, the situation is the same in these islands (continual high transmission) except Mayotte where a malaria programme is performed since 1976. But the historical differences, island by island, in the outbreak of malaria suggest various ecological balance which would be underlined by antimalarial activities.