The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa
Abstract Background For a country such as South Africa which is targeting malaria elimination, mobile and migrant populations pose a substantial risk to importation of malaria parasites. It has been hypothesized that halting cross-border movement of mobile and migrant populations will decrease the i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04542-1 |
| _version_ | 1797860021540749312 |
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| author | Rajendra Maharaj Abigail Ward Bradley Didier Ishen Seocharan Nina Firas Ryleen Balawanth Dominic Lucero Natashia Morris Mbavhalelo Shandukani Eric Raswiswi Gillian Malatjie Erik Mabunda Devanand Moonasar |
| author_facet | Rajendra Maharaj Abigail Ward Bradley Didier Ishen Seocharan Nina Firas Ryleen Balawanth Dominic Lucero Natashia Morris Mbavhalelo Shandukani Eric Raswiswi Gillian Malatjie Erik Mabunda Devanand Moonasar |
| author_sort | Rajendra Maharaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background For a country such as South Africa which is targeting malaria elimination, mobile and migrant populations pose a substantial risk to importation of malaria parasites. It has been hypothesized that halting cross-border movement of mobile and migrant populations will decrease the importation of malaria, however this option is not a politically, operationally, and financially viable prospect. It has social impacts as well, since families live on either side of the border and preventing travel will challenge family ties. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of ports of entry (land and air) for non-essential travel into South Africa, a unique opportunity arose to test the hypothesis. Methodology An interrupted time series analysis was done to assess whether the post-lockdown trends (April–December 2020) in monthly reported imported and local cases differed from the pre-lockdown trends (January 2015–March 2020). The analysis was conducted separately for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Results On average, imported cases were lower in the post-intervention period in all three provinces, and local cases were lower in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, though no results were statistically significant. Conclusion Since population movement continued after the travel restrictions were lifted, border screening with testing and treating should be considered for reducing parasite movement. Another option is reducing malaria cases at the source in neighbouring countries by implementing proven, effective vector and parasite control strategies and through a downstream effect reduce malaria entering South Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-643200e325f4446d9d1e0ad271ee1485 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-643200e325f4446d9d1e0ad271ee14852023-03-26T11:07:05ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752023-03-012211810.1186/s12936-023-04542-1The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South AfricaRajendra Maharaj0Abigail Ward1Bradley Didier2Ishen Seocharan3Nina Firas4Ryleen Balawanth5Dominic Lucero6Natashia Morris7Mbavhalelo Shandukani8Eric Raswiswi9Gillian Malatjie10Erik Mabunda11Devanand Moonasar12Medical Research CouncilClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeMedical Research CouncilClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeMedical Research CouncilNational Department of HealthKwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of HealthMpumalanga Provincial Department of HealthLimpopo Provincial Department of HealthWorld Health OrganizationAbstract Background For a country such as South Africa which is targeting malaria elimination, mobile and migrant populations pose a substantial risk to importation of malaria parasites. It has been hypothesized that halting cross-border movement of mobile and migrant populations will decrease the importation of malaria, however this option is not a politically, operationally, and financially viable prospect. It has social impacts as well, since families live on either side of the border and preventing travel will challenge family ties. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of ports of entry (land and air) for non-essential travel into South Africa, a unique opportunity arose to test the hypothesis. Methodology An interrupted time series analysis was done to assess whether the post-lockdown trends (April–December 2020) in monthly reported imported and local cases differed from the pre-lockdown trends (January 2015–March 2020). The analysis was conducted separately for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Results On average, imported cases were lower in the post-intervention period in all three provinces, and local cases were lower in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, though no results were statistically significant. Conclusion Since population movement continued after the travel restrictions were lifted, border screening with testing and treating should be considered for reducing parasite movement. Another option is reducing malaria cases at the source in neighbouring countries by implementing proven, effective vector and parasite control strategies and through a downstream effect reduce malaria entering South Africa.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04542-1Malaria eliminationCOVID-19Imported malariaPopulation movement |
| spellingShingle | Rajendra Maharaj Abigail Ward Bradley Didier Ishen Seocharan Nina Firas Ryleen Balawanth Dominic Lucero Natashia Morris Mbavhalelo Shandukani Eric Raswiswi Gillian Malatjie Erik Mabunda Devanand Moonasar The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa Malaria Journal Malaria elimination COVID-19 Imported malaria Population movement |
| title | The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa |
| title_full | The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa |
| title_short | The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on malaria transmission in South Africa |
| title_sort | effect of the covid 19 lockdown on malaria transmission in south africa |
| topic | Malaria elimination COVID-19 Imported malaria Population movement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04542-1 |
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