Reactive surveillance methods used for malaria elimination in Asia and the Pacific: Results from a 12 country survey

Excerpt

Moving from malaria control to elimination requires a strong surveillance system, one able to detect all malaria infections, including those without symptoms. Active case detection is designed to do this. One such active surveillance method is reactive case detection. Reactive case detection is the process that a malaria control program undertakes in response to a confirmed case of locally transmitted infection or an imported case that is found in a receptive area. The goal is to find additional cases of malaria infection and halt transmission through treatment of cases and targeted vector control. Although recommended as a tool for malaria elimination, there is little guidance on how a reactive case detection strategy should be implemented, nor is there substantial evidence to guide programs in what type of strategy might work in different epidemiological settings. The Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network, or APMEN, is a regional group of 12 country partners with a goal of malaria elimination. One of the main objectives of APMEN is to build the evidence base on malaria elimination, of which active surveillance methods are an important component. This survey aims to provide information on the different strategies in use and will help form the foundation for future studies on reactive case detection in the Asia Pacific. …