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Sharma PK, Tilak R. Outbreak prone communicable diseases of public health importance in the northern districts of West Bengal - Current status & the way forward. Indian J Med Res 2021; 153:358-366. [PMID: 33906999 PMCID: PMC8204839 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_607_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
India is perilously poised on the threshold of an explosion of infectious diseases, some of which have witnessed re-emergence while others await apposite opportunity to do so. The State of West Bengal is uniquely positioned with its innate geographical vulnerabilities that favour outbreaks of a host of infectious diseases. The northern districts of this State are well known endemic areas for many outbreak prone communicable diseases like malaria, Japanese encephalitis, scrub typhus, dengue and kala-azar. An outbreak of Nipah virus in the recent past is a pointer towards the emerging and re-emerging threat in these regions and warrants urgent prioritization for surveillance and monitoring of these diseases. Identification of risk factors, challenges in delivery of primary healthcare, implementation of intervention strategies along with strengthening of healthcare setup are also the need of the hour. Multisectoral initiatives with emphasis on understanding the complex and rapidly evolving human-animal-vector dynamics as envisaged under the ‘One Health’ concept are indubitably important pillars in the effective management of these emerging public health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puran Kumar Sharma
- Pasteur Institute, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Rina Tilak
- Department of Community Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Wangdi K, Gatton ML, Kelly GC, Banwell C, Dev V, Clements ACA. Malaria elimination in India and regional implications. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016; 16:e214-e224. [PMID: 27527748 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The malaria situation in India is complex as a result of diverse socio-environmental conditions. India contributes a substantial burden of malaria outside sub-Saharan Africa, with the third highest Plasmodium vivax prevalence in the world. Successful malaria control in India is likely to enhance malaria elimination efforts in the region. Despite modest gains, there are many challenges for malaria elimination in India, including: varied patterns of malaria transmission in different parts of the country demanding area-specific control measures; intense malaria transmission fuelled by favourable climatic and environment factors; varying degrees of insecticide resistance of vectors; antimalarial drug resistance; a weak surveillance system; and poor national coordination of state programmes. Prevention and protection against malaria are low as a result of a weak health-care system, as well as financial and socioeconomic constraints. Additionally, the open borders of India provide a potential route of entry for artesunate-resistant parasites from southeast Asia. This situation calls for urgent dialogue around tackling malaria across borders-between India's states and neighbouring countries-through sharing of information and coordinated control and preventive measures, if we are to achieve the aim of malaria elimination in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinley Wangdi
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Phuentsholing General Hospital, Phuentsholing, Bhutan.
| | - Michelle L Gatton
- School of Public Health & Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gerard C Kelly
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Vas Dev
- National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Archie C A Clements
- Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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