Malaria in Thailand

Malaria has been a major public health problem inThailand for centuries.It was the leading cause of death, claiming some 30,000-40,000 lives annually. The malaria morbidity rate of that year was approximately 300 per 1,000 population. The morbidity, and mortality rate were reduced from the year of 1988. By 1991, the mobidity has been reduced to 3.96 per 1,000 population, while the mortality is reduced to 2.3 per 100,000 population (1). Because of the morbidity and mortality rate are remaining, malaria is still an important public health problems in Thailand, and needs to be eradicated from the area.

The major species of malaria parasite in Thailand are P. falciparum, and
P. vivax, while P. malariae and P. ovalae are rare. Most of P. falciparum
in Thailand is resistant to chloroquine, sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (FansidarR), and mefloquine; even some strains of P. vivax have become resistant to chloroquine (2).