Morbidity and mortality due to malaria in Tarajulie Tea Estate, Assam, India

Beginning 1991, a sudden rise of malaria cases were recorded in Tarajulie TE (Assam) coupled with mortality due to malaria. Deaths were confirmed due to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infections and were recorded in all age groups excluding infants. Malaria positives were recorded in all months of the year, however, there was a increased hospital attendance due to fever/malaria positives during May to September. During the years (1991-1993), the slide positive rate was as high as 33.04%, mostly being Pf infections (69%), and the annual parasite index ranged between 6 to 304 per thousand population. Morbidity and mortality due to malaria were attributed to labor movements to and fro from garden premises to adjoining hamlets, the latter being the site of acquisition of the infections.

Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in tea garden tribes of Assam, India

P. falciparum was the predominant parasite ( > 80%) species in malaria ridden tea estates of Assam. A simplified 3 day in vivo test to determine chloroquine sensitivity in tea garden tribes revealed that the majority of the cases (85%) were S/RI, 7% were RI, and 3% were RII and 5% were RIII, respectively. Early case detection and treatment were deemed necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality due to P. falciparum in these tea estates.