Bloodsucking developments
Almost all types of malaria listed by the Delhi-based Malaria Research Centre in a recently prepared document are a result of human activity. The various types of malaria listed are:
• Tribal malaria, predominantly caused by P falciparum, occurs in forest fringe areas with disturbed ecology.
• Irrigation malaria breaks out in irrigated agricultural areas with large, medium and small dams or tank irrigation projects - high malaria endemicity is recorded in upper Krishna Irrigation Project in Karnataka and Sardar Sarovar Project dam on the Narmada in Gujarat.
• Urban malaria is caused by artificial accumulation of water which encourages breeding of A stephensi; largescale migration of population from rural to urban areas; and Increase in development and construction activities.
• Project or industrial malaria, for instance, occurring in projects such as the Mathura Oil Refinery, is caused by factors like the location of industries on riverine belts or in forested areas for easy availability of raw materials.
• Migration malaria, more pronounced in projects and intensive agriculture areas, is caused by Population migration from endemic to non-endemic areas and vice versa.