The Epidemiology of Malaria in Gaziantep Between 2005 and 2015

We aimed to evaluate the epidemiological data of malaria cases by using the data of Gaziantep Public Health Directorate between January 2005 and December 2015.

Blood samples were taken from suspicious cases and temporary agricultural workers living in the Fırat Watershed and in areas in where malaria was seen before and in the tent cities of Islahiye, Nizip and Karkamış by request of the ministry. The cases were evaluated in terms of age, gender, detected malaria species, months when malaria was detected, and whether they were imported cases.

Thirty-one malaria cases were detected in blood samples taken from 184.305 patients. The malaria positivity rate was determined as 0.017%. Five of the patients (16.3%) were indigenous; 2 (6.5%) were cases with relapse and 24 cases (77.2%) were imported.

In our study, we last saw a new indigenous case in 2005. In the following years , cases with relapses and cases originating from abroad were seen, which was linked to the ease of transportation and the increase in touristic and commercial relations. Although lack of malaria in the samples taken from people living in tent cities in our region is favorable, necessary measures should be taken against new epidemics.