Anatomía de un brote malárico en un área en fase de consolidación

Abstract

This paper describes the occurrence and sudden transformation of a non-active residual outbreak into an active outbreak of 110 cases of malaria due to P. vivax in an area at the end of the first year of consolidation. The vector was A. pseudopunctipennis and the outbreak reached its highest intensity between January and February 1964 and was favored by the drought. The causes of the rapid spread were various deficiencies such as the delay in the investigation of the first suspect bloodslides, serious errors of the microscopists, delay in epidemiological work, treatment and sanitary measures. It is also pointed out that a regular active evaluation has not the same value as a passive one. The need for checking the efficiency of microscopists and for having operational provisions for treating emergency cases in areas in the consolidation phase is again emphasized