ILOILO City – No cases of malaria – imported or indigenous – have been detected in Western Visayas so far this year, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.
People with malaria often experience fever, chills and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die.
Region 6 achieved total malaria-free status on August 2021 when Negros Occidental was officially declared malaria-free by DOH.
The provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Aklan, and Capiz were certified malaria-free way ahead in 1995.
Antique was declared malaria-free just this 2019.
To be considered malaria-free, an area must meet the following requirements:
* no locally acquired confirmed indigenous cases in the last five years
* a functional Provincial Malaria Elimination and Response Hub
* functional provincial surveillance and response system
* functional system for diagnostic and treatment for malaria cases
* functional entomological surveillance
* functional quality assurance system for malaria microscopy and vector control
* local ordinances to support malaria activities
“Western Visayas is still a malaria-free region,” said Maria Lourdes Monegro, malaria program coordinator of DOH Region 6.
It was World Malaria Day on Monday, April 25.
To sustain Western Visayas’ malaria-free status, Monegro said DOH-6 partnered with local government units (LGUs) for surveillance and monitoring of possible malaria cases.
This also covers returning oversees Filipinos workers from malaria-endemic countries.
“Mangin vigilant kita sa aton palibot. Kun may mga residente kita nga nagapuli halin sa mga endemic areas diri sa aton pungsod kag sa iban nga countries nga endemic ang malaria, kun may symptoms sila makadto gilayon sa pinakamalapit nga health center,” said Monegro.
Plasmodium parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The first symptoms – fever, headache and chills – usually appear 10 to 15 days after the infective mosquito bite and may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria.
Left untreated, malaria can progress to severe illness and death within a period of 24 hours.
In 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria.
Some population groups were at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria and developing severe disease: infants, children under five years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as people with low immunity moving to areas with intense malaria transmission such as migrant workers, mobile populations and travellers.
According to WHO, early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease, prevents deaths and contributes to reducing transmission.
WHO recommends that all suspected cases of malaria be confirmed using parasite-based diagnostic testing (through either microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test).
Diagnostic testing enables health providers to swiftly distinguish between malarial and non-malarial fevers, facilitating appropriate treatment.
The best available treatment, according to WHO, is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). The primary objective of treatment is to ensure the rapid and full elimination of Plasmodium parasites to prevent an uncomplicated case of malaria from progressing to severe disease or death./PN
