Morbidity and mortality due to malaria in Tarajulie Tea Estate, Assam, India

Beginning 1991, a sudden rise of malaria cases were recorded in Tarajulie TE (Assam) coupled with mortality due to malaria. Deaths were confirmed due to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infections and were recorded in all age groups excluding infants. Malaria positives were recorded in all months of the year, however, there was a increased hospital attendance due to fever/malaria positives during May to September. During the years (1991-1993), the slide positive rate was as high as 33.04%, mostly being Pf infections (69%), and the annual parasite index ranged between 6 to 304 per thousand population. Morbidity and mortality due to malaria were attributed to labor movements to and fro from garden premises to adjoining hamlets, the latter being the site of acquisition of the infections.