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Our paper on malaria spatial epidemiology (Venezuela) is OUT
Main findings: Illegal gold-mining drives malaria hotspots & these high transmission pockets have been critical in the surge of infection across the country from 2014 onwards
https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008211
THREAD
Main findings: Illegal gold-mining drives malaria hotspots & these high transmission pockets have been critical in the surge of infection across the country from 2014 onwards
https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008211
THREAD
1/ With the focus on COVID19, we cannot forget our endemic epidemics
Malaria elimination in the Americas is becoming an elusive goal. From ~1 MM of cases (2017-2019), Venezuela contributes 51% -53% (WHO 2020)
Malaria elimination in the Americas is becoming an elusive goal. From ~1 MM of cases (2017-2019), Venezuela contributes 51% -53% (WHO 2020)
2/ We characterized by spatial cluster detection that malaria in Vz (2007-2017) has been ALWAYS very focal & prevalent in the south (persistent HOTSPOTS) and evidenced that deforested areas (illegal gold-mining) seem to drive malaria HOTSPOTS
3/ Vegetation from surrounding forest is cut for gold extraction. From 2007-2017, 3,058 Ha were lost & malaria increased (~746 %). Land-use change is the environmental associated proxy of local malaria increase
4/Mining dug-outs left after clearing are suitable for colonization of Nyssorhynchus albitarsis s.l. & Ny. darlingi, main malaria vectors in the area
5/ Miners work, sleep and live outdoors. Occupation is the main sociological factor determining greater and prolonged exposure to vector bites of young males
6/ Since migration has increased toward gold mining areas due to country crisis, we hypothesize that a source (origin & exporting)/sink (receiving) malaria dynamic accounts for current spatial disease pattern (kriging prediction map)
/7
Program focused on these HOTSPOTS is urgent & essential
Successful control requires national & regional coordination due to ongoing cross-border malaria spillover ( http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30757-6)
Otherwise, progress achieved tw malaria elimination in the Americas will be reversed
Program focused on these HOTSPOTS is urgent & essential
Successful control requires national & regional coordination due to ongoing cross-border malaria spillover ( http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30757-6)
Otherwise, progress achieved tw malaria elimination in the Americas will be reversed
