EPIDEMIOLOGICAL

PATTERNS
LITERATURE REVIEW
● An estimated 247 million cases and
627,000 deaths occurred in 2020,
predominantly in Africa.
● Global case numbers have
declined by 59% since 2000, and
mortality rates have fallen by 65%.
● Drug resistance, insecticide
resistance, and socio-economic
factors like poverty and limited
access to healthcare impede
progress.
CONT.
Pakistan bears a significant burden of malaria,
accounting for an estimated 3.4 million suspected
cases in 2022 alone.
While case numbers have fluctuated over the years, a
concerning upward trend was observed in 2022,
potentially linked to factors like flooding and population
displacement.
Despite progress in reducing mortality rates, malaria
remains a major public health concern, particularly in
high-risk provinces like Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.
INCIDENCE OF MALARIA

Estimated Cases: According to the World Malaria Report 2022,

Pakistan has an estimated 1 million malaria cases annually.
Confirmed Cases: In 2022, over 170,000 cases were laboratory-
confirmed, highlighting underreporting and challenges in accessing
healthcare.
PREVALENCE OF MALARIA
Parasite Prevalence: Studies suggest varying
prevalence rates, ranging from 2.4% in Punjab to
12.4% in Balochistan among treatment-seeking
patients.
Species Distribution: Plasmodium vivax is
predominant (84%), followed by P. falciparum
(14.9%) and mixed infections (1.1%).
DISEASE DISTRIBUTION BY DEMOGRAPHICS

Age: Children under 5 are disproportionately affected, accounting for approximately

40% of cases. However, all age groups remain vulnerable.

Gender: While no significant gender disparity exists, pregnant women and young girls
might be at increased risk due to physiological changes and reduced access to
healthcare.

Socioeconomic factors: Poverty, limited access to healthcare, poor sanitation, and

inadequate mosquito control measures in underprivileged communities exacerbate
vulnerability.

Occupation: Individuals engaged in outdoor activities, particularly in high-risk areas,

face higher exposure to mosquito bites.
References
* World Health Organization (WHO): [
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sh
eets/detail/malaria)

* Malaria Journal: [
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-12-297](https://malariajourn
al.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-12-297)

* PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: [

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33939717/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33939717/)

* International Journal of Mosquito Research: [

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8542814/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl
es/PMC8542814/)