Sri Lanka to eliminate Malaria by next year

Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka will eliminate Malaria by 2014. No Malaria cases have been reported in Sri Lanka during the past three months, Health Ministry sources said.

According to the sources, only 23 Malaria cases were reported from Sri Lanka last year, while another 70 Malaria cases were from among those visiting Sri Lanka from foreign countries.

In 2000, a total of 200,000 Malaria patients were reported from Sri Lanka. Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota were the most affected districts in Sri Lanka.

During the period between 1934 – 1935, Malaria became an epidemic in Sri Lanka with over 1.5 million cases and over 82,000 deaths reported due to the disease.

The signs and symptoms of malaria typically begin 8–25 days following the infection. Symptoms may occur later in those who have taken antimalarial medication as prevention.

Initial manifestations of the disease, common to all malaria species, are similar to flu-like symptoms and can resemble other conditions, such as, septicemia, gastroenteritis, and viral diseases.

The presentation may include headache, fever, shivering, joint pain, vomiting, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, hemoglobin in the urine, retinal damage,[5] and convulsions.

The classic symptom of malaria is paroxysm, a cyclical occurrence of sudden coldness followed by rigour and then fever and sweating, occurring every two days. This year’s World Malaria Day was celebrated on April 25 under the theme of “Invest in the future: defeat malaria”.

Public contribution is important when eradicating Malaria from Sri Lanka.