El Niño and variations in the prevalence of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum in Vanuatu

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Dec;103(12):1285-7. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.10.048. Epub 2008 Dec 13.

Abstract

Malaria, both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, is a major cause of morbidity in Vanuatu. As P. vivax is more prevalent in seasonal climates and P. falciparum in areas of more consistent rainfall, it is postulated that there will be a correlation between the ratio of vivax:falciparum and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which affects sea surface temperatures and rainfall. With changes in global climate, the frequency, duration and strength of the ENSO are expected to alter, influencing the pattern of malaria. The data showed no obvious correlation between ENSO and either cases of malaria or the vivax:falciparum ratio.

MeSH terms

  • El Nino-Southern Oscillation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology*
  • Malaria, Vivax / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Plasmodium falciparum*
  • Plasmodium vivax*
  • Prevalence
  • Vanuatu / epidemiology