Patterns of occurrence of malaria in the department Risaralda, Colombia, 2007-2009

Introduction: Malaria is parasitic disease with highest morbidity and mortality in Latin America, especially in those sharing the Amazon basin, included Colombia. Risaralda, one of its departments with low burden, requires periodical surveillance and evaluation in order to contribute to a better control. Materials and methods: Epidemiological study of evaluation of incidence, etiology, geographical distribution and mortality due to malaria in the period 2007-2009, in Risaralda, Colombia. Results: During the period 2,640 cases were recorded (mean 880±290/year). Incidence range from 60.01 (2008) to 122.87 (2011) cases/100,000 pop. (API, 0.6-1.23 cases/1,000 pop.). From the total, 93.4% corresponded to P. vivax, 3.7% to P. falciparum and 2.9% to P. vivax/P. falciparum, 68.9% were from the municipality Pueblo Rico, 14.0% Mistrató and 3.1% Pereira, additionally 13% were imported from other departments. Mortality was stable in 0.1 deaths/100,000 pop./year. Discussion: Burden of malaria in Risaralda it is explained in part due to the social conditions of the municipalities as well due to environmental issues, which has been impacting in this and other vector-borne diseases in Colombia, Latin America and the World. For this reason, more efforts in operative research, leading to get deeper in activities oriented to a higher control and reduction of this disease in the department, should be done.