Malaria in South Asia

Malaria is one of the most widespread and devastating infectious diseases in the world. More than half the world population residing in over 100 countries is at risk of infection from this vector-borne disease. An estimated 250500 million mal- ial cases occur each year, resulting in nearly one million deaths, the overwhelming majority of which are children. Because of the magnitude of the associated fata- ties, development experts consider malaria a 'silent tsunami,' comparing its death toll to the Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT) that ravaged several countries of South and Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004. That tsunami killed some 300,000 people (including children) at once. Globally, malarial deaths account for about 9% of all childhood deaths each year. However, with malaria more than most fatal d- eases, mortality is a small fraction of morbidity. Malaria is a debilitating disease, particularly for the adult population. In addition to children, pregnant women and migrating populations are most v- nerable to malaria. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight are common among pregnant women who are infected with this disease. Malaria manifests itself through recurrent fever and chills, with associated symptoms such as anemia and an enlarged spleen. If a person survives the disease, he or she will develop a certain degree of immunity for some years. But malaria victims are not only deprived of energy, they also face an increased risk of other diseases taking hold in the weakened body.

Provides geographical perspective and diffusion analysis of malaria in the recent history of the South Asian countries An interdisciplinary approach: medical geography, Asian studies, planning, epidemiology, pure sciences (vaccine and genetic engineering considerations, clinical study reports) and public health are interrelated Contains up-to-date information for scholars and professionals in health planning and development, also valuable for students

Auteur

Rais Akhtar is CSIR Emeritus Scientist at the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has published more then 12 books and numerous articles on medical geography. He is the recipient of multiple international fellowships, and was nominated to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which co-won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore.

Dr. Ashok K. Dutt is Professor Emeritus of Geography, Planning, and Urban Studies at The University of Akron. He has published in major journals of the world and has written and edited over 20 books. He has been a Fulbright Scholar and Ford Foundation Fellow, received the R.N. Dubey Foundation award for Lifetime Achievement in Geography, and was honored with the title of Bhugool Bachaspati (Most Learned Geographer) in 2008 at the National Congress of National Association of Indian Geographers.

Dr. Vandana Wadhwa is Lecturer at Boston University, Massachusetts. She has published in several major journals and contributed various books chapters and encyclopedia entries. She is the former Chair of the Health & Medical Geography Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers, Secretary-Treasurer of its Disability Specialty Group, and Director of South Asia Studies within the Asian Geography Specialty Group.

Texte du rabat

This highly topical book provides an in-depth account of the South Asian experience with the deadly disease that has held this region hostage for millennia. The book touches specifically on the resurgence of malaria experienced in the second half of the twentieth century, which occurred just a few years after malaria was thought to have been virtually eradicated from the region. The causes and consequences of this reappearance across space and time are discussed. The book also covers past, present and future ways to curb, control and ultimately, conquer malaria. As malaria continues to ravage the developing world, even in today's 'age of science', this is a particularly relevant book, especially as most studies analyze the problem in Africa, the continent that bears the brunt of this disease. Here, the authors call attention to challenges in South Asia, home to an immense at-risk population. The chapters use a range of conceptual frameworks, quantitative analyses and descriptive approaches, finding that malaria is not just a complex disease driven by highly adaptive agents and vectors thriving in particular ecologies, but also a social concern deeply related to the region's cultural traditions, financial and developmental shortfalls, and inexorably related to political will.

The book comprehensively deals with all aspects of the malaria situation in South Asia, and is invaluable to upper level students as well as emerging and established scholars in the fields of medical geography and epidemiology, Asian studies and development studies.

Key themes: malaria, South Asia, resurgence, eradication, medical geography

Rais Akhtar is CSIR Emeritus Scientist at the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has numerous publications on medical geography, and over 12 books. He is the recipient of multiple international fellowships, and was nominated to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whichco-won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore.

Dr. Ashok K. Dutt is Professor Emeritus of Geography, Planning, and Urban Studies at The University of Akron. He has published in major journals of the world and has written and edited over 20 books. He has been a Fulbright Scholar and Ford Foundation Fellow, received the R.N. Dubey Foundation award for Lifetime Achievement in Geography, and Bhugool Bachaspati (Most Learned Geographer) award from the National Association of Indian Geographers.

Dr. Vandana Wadhwa is Lecturer at Boston University, Massachusetts. She has published in several major journals and contributed various books chapters and encyclopedia entries. She is the former Chair of the Health & Medical Geography Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers, Secretary-Treasurer of its Disability Specialty Group, and Director of South Asia Studies within the Asian Geography Specialty Group.

Contenu
The History and Progression of Malaria: A Global and Regional View.- Resurgence of Malaria in Sri Lanka in the 1970s.- Malaria in Sri Lanka: A Geomedical Analysis1.- Malaria Resurgence in Nepal: An Overview.- Resurgence and Post-resurgence Periods of Malaria in Bangladesh.- Resurgence of Malaria in Bangladesh.- The Resurgence of Malaria in Pakistan: A Geographical Evaluation.- Malaria Resurgence in Urban India: Lessons from Health Planning Strategies1,2.- The Dynamics of Urban Malaria in India: An Update.- Lessons from the Past, View to the Future: Summary and Concluding Remarks.