The country’s malaria situation remains under “control”, but still the disease has been affecting thousands of people as 1,158 cases and two deaths from the disease were reported from January to March this year.

“Country’s malaria situation remains under control now. We are going ahead to reach our target of eliminating the disease by 2030,” Dr Shyamol Kumer Das, deputy programme manager (malaria and Aedes transmitted disease) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Daily Sun.

He said currently their main challenge is to tackle the malaria situation in Chattogram Hill Tracts – Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban districts – where the highest numbers of cases are reported. The health authority is taking special initiatives to reduce the number of cases in those areas.

Experts said aside from dengue, another deadly mosquito-borne disease Malaria has been affecting public health for years, leaving many dead.

Out of the total malaria infections reported in the first three months of this year, 138 were in Cox’s Bazar, 460 in Bandarban, 503 in Rangamati, 40 in Khagrachhari, 13 in Chattogram, two in Habiganj, one in Sylhet and one in Netrokona district. One person died from the disease in Cox’s Bazar, and another one Chattogram.

Of the total cases during that period, around 43% was reported in Rangamati, 39% in Bandarban, 12% in Cox’s Bazar and 3% in Khagrachhari which are marked as highly malaria-prone areas.

So far, malaria cases were reported in eight districts of the country from January to March.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Dr Khalilur Rahman, entomologist of DGHS, said the transmission of malaria and density of Anopheles mosquito, which spreads the disease, mostly depend on rainfall, temperature and humidity.

“Intermittent rainfall is very much favourable to malaria transmission. The malaria situation also depends on how early winter comes in an area,” he added.

According to the DGHS officials, malaria is an important public health concern in Bangladesh as it is endemic in 13 out of 64 districts in the country. The 13 malaria-prone districts with high transmission are Sherpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Kurigram, Sylhet, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Chattogram, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.

Three Chattogram Hill Tracts districts contributed most of the cases – over 90% of the total – in 2023.  Maximum caseloads of 60% and 28% are contributed by Bandarban (10,001) and Rangamati (4,713), respectively.

Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality since 2008. Malaria burden had been declining each year, although in 2014 there was an upsurge in the hill tracts.

In 2019, another malaria upsurge hit the country.

“However, the country is on track towards reducing the disease burden and gradually moving towards achievement of the vision of malaria elimination,” Dr Shyamol Kumer said.

According to DGHS data, 15,567 malaria cases and six deaths were reported in Bangladesh in 2023. Of them, 71.7% was reported in Bandarban, 21.3% in Rangamati, 1.4% in Khagrachhari and 4.9% in Cox’s Bazar.

It further said 18,195 cases and 14 deaths were reported in 2022, 7,294 cases and nine deaths in 2021, and 6,130 cases and nine deaths in 2020.

The country faced the worst malaria situation in 2008 when 84,690 cases and 154 deaths were recorded and then 57,480 cases and 45 deaths were reported in 2014.

Dr Shyamol Kumer said 80% case reduction and 96% death reduction has been achieved in the country while annual parasite index has dropped to 0.82 and occurrence of severe malaria stood at 1.5% only.

The authorities have already declared 51 districts across the country malaria-free, according to DGHS.

According to the plan for “Phased Elimination of Malaria from Bangladesh by 2030” of the National Malaria Control Programme, local transmission will be interrupted by the year 2024 and there will be no indigenous malaria in four districts of Mymensingh zone.

By 2026, local transmission will be interrupted and indigenous malaria cases will be eliminated in four districts of Sylhet zone, and in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar districts. By 2025, annual parasite incidence will be reduced to less than one person per 1,000 people in the three districts of Chattogram Hill Tracts. Besides, zero mortality due to indigenous malaria will be attained nationwide and that status will be maintained.

World Malaria Day 2024 will be observed across the country with the theme “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.”

The World Health Organisation said malaria mostly spreads through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, while blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit it. The initial symptoms of the disease may be mild, similar to many febrile illnesses, and difficult to recognise as malaria while left untreated. The “P falciparum malaria” can progress to severe illness and death within 24 hours.