Illustrative image (Source: suckhoedoisong.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - An increase in drug- resistant malariacases in many regions nationwide is of growing concern to community health, expertshave warned.
According to Dr Ngo Duc Thang from the National Institute ofMalariology, Parasitology and Entomology, the first drug-resistant malaria casewas found in 2009 in the southeast province of Banh Phuoc by malariaresearchers from the HCM City-based Oxford University Clinical Research Unit(OUCRU).
The resistance has spread to four additional provinces, includingthe Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Dak Nong, and the centralcoastal provinces of Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa, he told Kinh Te va Do Thi (Economyand Urban Affairs) newspaper on February 14.
The doctor said resistance to a more dangerous malaria parasite(P. falciparum) carried by mosquitoes had risen among patients to more than 33percent this year. Thang said the big concern now is the high risk of itspreading to other regions by migrant workers.
“I am worried that spread would lead to outbreaks, especially inthe central and Central Highlands regions,” said the expert.
He explained that the most serious cause of drug-resistant malariaparasites was the wrong use of malaria drugs, with patients taking wrong doses.
"Increasing temperatures and rainfall in the central regionalso provide a favourable environment for mosquitoes infected with theseparasites," he added.
Residents of the Mekong Delta and the northern region often travelto areas with high risk of malaria in the centre and Central Highlands toexploit wood or cassava. When they return, they can transmit the disease torelatives and neighbours.
"Treatment to drug-resistant malaria is more difficult andprolonged, and some patients even face a high risk of death," Thang said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends Artemisinin-basedcombination therapy (ACT) as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malariacaused by P.falciparum. ACT helps clear all parasites in malaria patients’blood in three days.
However, the remedy only has 85.4 percent success, according to Thang.
In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed anincreased resistance to a number of malaria medicines. In Vietnam, the numberof malaria cases is still high, according to Dr Tran Thanh Duong, Director ofthe National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology.
About 30,000 cases, including 100 acute ones, are reported everyyear.
The provinces with a continuing high rate of malaria over manyyears are Binh Phuoc, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Khanh Hoa, NinhThuan, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.-VNA
According to Dr Ngo Duc Thang from the National Institute ofMalariology, Parasitology and Entomology, the first drug-resistant malaria casewas found in 2009 in the southeast province of Banh Phuoc by malariaresearchers from the HCM City-based Oxford University Clinical Research Unit(OUCRU).
The resistance has spread to four additional provinces, includingthe Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Dak Nong, and the centralcoastal provinces of Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa, he told Kinh Te va Do Thi (Economyand Urban Affairs) newspaper on February 14.
The doctor said resistance to a more dangerous malaria parasite(P. falciparum) carried by mosquitoes had risen among patients to more than 33percent this year. Thang said the big concern now is the high risk of itspreading to other regions by migrant workers.
“I am worried that spread would lead to outbreaks, especially inthe central and Central Highlands regions,” said the expert.
He explained that the most serious cause of drug-resistant malariaparasites was the wrong use of malaria drugs, with patients taking wrong doses.
"Increasing temperatures and rainfall in the central regionalso provide a favourable environment for mosquitoes infected with theseparasites," he added.
Residents of the Mekong Delta and the northern region often travelto areas with high risk of malaria in the centre and Central Highlands toexploit wood or cassava. When they return, they can transmit the disease torelatives and neighbours.
"Treatment to drug-resistant malaria is more difficult andprolonged, and some patients even face a high risk of death," Thang said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends Artemisinin-basedcombination therapy (ACT) as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malariacaused by P.falciparum. ACT helps clear all parasites in malaria patients’blood in three days.
However, the remedy only has 85.4 percent success, according to Thang.
In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed anincreased resistance to a number of malaria medicines. In Vietnam, the numberof malaria cases is still high, according to Dr Tran Thanh Duong, Director ofthe National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology.
About 30,000 cases, including 100 acute ones, are reported everyyear.
The provinces with a continuing high rate of malaria over manyyears are Binh Phuoc, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Khanh Hoa, NinhThuan, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.-VNA
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