Human Migration and Malaria Transmission Dynamics

Human Migration and Malaria Transmission Dynamics in Visakhapatnam: A Detailed Study

Introduction

An introduction to the topic “Human Migration and Malaria Transmission Dynamics” Migration plays a major role in the spread of infectious diseases like malaria, especially in developing regions with rapid urbanization.

This excerpt from a Zoology thesis explores how population movement into Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram impacts malaria transmission dynamics.

The detailed field study combines census data with community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) to reveal how migration, urban slum conditions, and lack of awareness contribute to malaria’s prevalence.

Students, researchers, and policymakers will find this excerpt useful for understanding the socio-ecological factors driving malaria in urban India and for designing better control strategies.

Excerpt:

“CHAPTER IV
THE SURVEILLANCE OF MALARIAL DISEASE DUE TO HUMAN MIGRATION

4.1 INTRODUCTION
The important role of human behavioral, social and economic factors in the epidemiology of malaria had been recognized before Laveren’s first discovery of human pathogenic Plasmodium in 1880 (Laveren, 1884).

Since malaria is the result of the interplay of parasite, arthropod vector and human host with the physical environment it is to be expected that ecological factors have a guiding impact on this biological system.

Changes in human ecology, especially the agglomeration of humans in larger compact groups, seemed to have brought together the critical mass required for establishment of hyperendemic malaria (Laderman, 1975).

Human factors in general and population movements in particular are also the main elements that increase the spread of diseases (Prothero RM, 1961; Martens P. 2000).

Work opportunities and resettlement programs in malaria endemic areas can easily attract a huge number of people, making them vulnerable to the disease (Nega A 1991).

As people move to malarious areas, they increase their risk of acquiring the disease. Migrants from malaria free areas do not have immunity and easily acquire the disease (Gilles HM and Warrell DA 1993).

Before the major resettlement programs, the areas were characterized by stable malaria transmission and the problem among the indigenous population was not of major concern due to low prevalence of the disease.

Following the resettlement programs, however, an unprecedented increase in the incidence of malaria was observed in those areas.

As for instance, 150,027 microscopically confirmed malaria cases were reported in the Pawie Settlement Area during the three-year period of 1985 to 1988, which had never been observed before.

Most settlers came from the malaria free highlands and unstable fringe areas, putting them at high morbidity and mortality risk from malaria.

Migration for the purpose of settlement in new areas is another major factor associated with malaria transmission, especially in the case of settlement in tropical forest areas.

Major environmental transformations take place during occupation, fostering the proliferation of mosquito breeding sites, and resulting in major malaria outbreaks.

Migrants are most likely to lack immunity against the disease, as well as the appropriate knowledge of the transmission process.

It is important to emphasize, however, that undisturbed forests do not pose serious risk for malaria transmission (Hirsch, 1883).

In this work a combined effort has been made to find out the relationship between malaria incidence in Visakhapatnam with migratory population and environmental effects.

Urbanization is one of the processes dramatically impacted by migration.

A large fraction of the most recent growth is attributable to population movements. Migrants (mostly coming from rural areas) are likely to live under poor conditions, becoming exposed to different diseases.

Rural practices are brought to the city, such as growing of crops and raising livestock. Some agricultural practices facilitate the spread of vector-borne diseases.

Also, the presence of cattle in marshy areas results in the creation of hoof prints that potentially offer ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. (Bakewell, 2007).

Andhra Pradesh’s capital city of Visakhapatnam has undergone a lot of development since 1960’s and it’s been a continuous process till date. Due to the developmental activities in the last two decades, a lot of population movement has taken place.

The malaria prevalence has also shown an increasing trend since 2010.

The role of migratory population in the situation of malaria and their contribution towards the same warrants for an immediate assessment of proportion of migratory population coming to the city and their knowledge about malaria for developing suitable control strategy to reduce the malaria burden of the city.”

Source Citation:

Researcher: Ramakrishna, S.
Thesis Title: Studies on certain malaria transmission dynamics in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh
Guide(s): Sandeep B V.
University: Andhra University
Completed Date: 2012
Exit Page Number: Page 52

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