The path to Malaria elimination in Argentina

The history of malaria in Argentina encompasses an extended period of over a hundred years of evolution since the late 19th century to the present. This long period has been arbitrarily divided into four phases, each characterized by particular features. The First phase encompassed the period between 1891 and 1939, and was characterized by prevailing environmental engineering works for malaria control. The Second phase is marked by the appearance of a new insecticide, Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane or DDT, which has a determining impact on the endemic disease, causing the most significant reduction known in the endemic area until then, that marked the epidemiological malaria scenario in Argentina forever. At the Third phase, 1950 - 2008, previous achievements were gradually consolidated: the malaria transmission area was reduced and a method for epidemiological surveillance was established, which still survives to date, with little modifications. The Fourth phase, 2009 - 2015, the interruption of indigenous cases in the country is achieved and prepare a plan to prevent the reintroduction of cases.

Autorentext

Dr Mario Zaidenberg earned his master's degree in Epidemiology at the Universidad del Valle, Colombia, (1992). Since then he has worked in the area of vector-borne diseases northern Argentina. He has been active in the prevention and control mainly of Chagas disease, dengue and malaria. He is in charge of the National Program of Malaria, Argentina.