Epidemiological situation of malaria in Venezuela, in 2009

Malaria is the most important tropical parasitic disease in the world and a contagious disease that causes more deaths than tuberculosis. In the year 2009 in Venezuela 36,448 cases were diagnosed, 35,725 of which originated in the country and 723 imported from abroad. This represents an increase of transmission of 11.5% (3688) cases in relation to that reported of 2008, ending in situation of "alarm" in the area of the curve of cases of the disease. In Bolivar state, 25 sites provided 10,502 cases (34.5% in the incidence of state and 29.4% of the country). In Amazonas state the disease occurred in children under 10 years: 32.3% of the incidence due to Plasmodium vivax, 41.6% to P. falciparum, 78.9% to P. malariae and 57.1% to mixed infections. It is necessary to define the northern malaria program, and raise the objectives, based on the guidelines of the WHO/PAHO, ie., is the program "control" or "elimination." The malaria problem in Venezuela is overcome with political will and lack of coordination between authorities at central, state and local, and community involvement. This requires having the resources: human, material and financial resources, to undertake an effective and sustainable control and elimination program over time, to ensure the success of the objectives.