%0 Journal Article
%T Spatial analysis of malaria in Anhui province, China
%A Wenyi Zhang
%A Liping Wang
%A Liqun Fang
%A Jiaqi Ma
%A Youfu Xu
%A Jiafu Jiang
%A Fengming Hui
%A Jianjun Wang
%A Song Liang
%A Hong Yang
%A Wuchun Cao
%J Malaria Journal
%D 2008
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1475-2875-7-206
%X The annual average incidence at the county level was calculated using malaria cases reported between 2000 and 2006 in Anhui Province. GIS-based spatial analyses were conducted to detect spatial distribution and clustering of malaria incidence at the county level.The spatial distribution of malaria cases in Anhui Province from 2000 to 2006 was mapped at the county level to show crude incidence, excess hazard and spatial smoothed incidence. Spatial cluster analysis suggested 10 and 24 counties were at increased risk for malaria (P < 0.001) with the maximum spatial cluster sizes at < 50% and < 25% of the total population, respectively.The application of GIS, together with spatial statistical techniques, provide a means to quantify explicit malaria risks and to further identify environmental factors responsible for the re-emerged malaria risks. Future public health planning and resource allocation in Anhui Province should be focused on the maximum spatial cluster region.Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Indeed, more than 2.4 billion people are exposed to the risk of malaria [1]. Malaria kills between 1.1 and 2.7 million people each year [1,2]. Malaria is one of major parasitic diseases with a wide distribution in China. The prevalence gradually decreases from south to north. Southern parts of 25ˇăNL (Nanling Mountains) used to be the hyper- or meso-endemic regions, where falciparum malaria was widely present. Meso- and hypo-endemic areas were between 25¨C33ˇăNL (from Nanling to Qinling Mountains and the Huai River), where vivax malaria was predominant, though falciparum malaria also existed and focal outbreaks often occurred. In the region north of 33ˇăNL (north of Qinling Mountain and the Huai River), malaria was of low endemicity and Plasmodium vivax was the only species present; temporary epidemics were occasionally caused by imported falciparum malaria [3].The provinces of Yunnan and Hainan are the areas where malaria has been
%U http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/206