Civilian-military malaria outbreak response in Thailand: an example of multi-stakeholder engagement for malaria elimination

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Michelle E. Roh, Kanyarat Lausatianragit, Nithinart Chaitaveep, Krisada Jongsakul, Prayuth Sudathip, Chatree Raseebut, Sutchana Tabprasit, Prasert Nonkaew, Michele Spring, Montri Arsanok, Parat Boonyarangka, Sabaithip Sriwichai, Piyaporn Sai-ngam, Chaiyaporn Chaisatit, Peerapol Pokpong, Preecha Prempree, Sara Rossi, Mitra Feldman, Mariusz Wojnarski, Adam Bennett, Roly Gosling, Danai Jearakul, Wanchai Lausatianragit, Philip L. Smith, Nicholas J. Martin, Andrew A. Lover, Mark M. Fukuda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021
• Subjects: Military; Civilian; Malaria; Malaria outbreak investigation; Thailand; Malaria elimination; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03995-6; https://doaj.org/article/f31bdaa97fcc4580bd95e5a3fb367238

Abstract Background In April 2017, the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) was alerted to a potential malaria outbreak among civilians and military personnel in Sisaket Province, a highly forested area bordering Cambodia. The objective of this study was to present findings from the joint civilian-military outbreak response. Methods A mixed-methods approach was used to assess risk factors among cases reported during the 2017 Sisaket malaria outbreak. Routine malaria surveillance data from January 2013 to March 2018 obtained from public and military medical reporting systems and key informant interviews (KIIs) (n = 72) were used to develop hypotheses about potential factors contributing to the outbreak. Joint civilian-military response activities included entomological surveys, mass screen and treat (MSAT) and vector control campaigns, and scale-up of the “1–3–7” reactive case detection approach among civilians alongside a pilot “1–3–7” study conducted by the Royal Thai Army (RTA). Results Between May–July 2017, the monthly number of MoPH-reported cases surpassed the epidemic threshold. Outbreak cases detected through the MoPH mainly consisted of Thai males (87%), working as rubber tappers (62%) or military/border police (15%), and Plasmodium vivax infections (73%). Compared to cases from the previous year (May–July 2016), outbreak cases were more likely to be rubber tappers (OR = 14.89 [95% CI: 5.79–38.29]; p < 0.001) and infected with P. vivax (OR=2.32 [1.27–4.22]; p = 0.006). Themes from KIIs were congruent with findings from routine surveillance data. Though limited risk factor information was available from military cases, findings from RTA’s “1–3–7” study indicated transmission was likely occurring outside military bases. Data from entomological surveys and MSAT campaigns support this hypothesis, as vectors were mostly exophagic and parasite prevalence from MSAT campaigns was very low (range: 0-0.7% by PCR/microscopy). Conclusions In 2017, an outbreak of mainly P. vivax occurred in Sisaket Province, ...