Publication: Low parasite connectivity among three malaria hotspots in Thailand
Issued Date
2021-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
20452322
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2-s2.0-85120747602
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Scientific Reports. Vol.11, No.1 (2021)
Suggested Citation
Hsiao Han Chang, Meng Chun Chang, Mathew Kiang, Ayesha S. Mahmud, Nattwut Ekapirat, Kenth Engø-Monsen, Prayuth Sudathip, Caroline O. Buckee, Richard J. Maude Low parasite connectivity among three malaria hotspots in Thailand. Scientific Reports. Vol.11, No.1 (2021). doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02746-6 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/79191
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Title
Low parasite connectivity among three malaria hotspots in Thailand
Abstract
Identifying sources and sinks of malaria transmission is critical for designing effective intervention strategies particularly as countries approach elimination. The number of malaria cases in Thailand decreased 90% between 2012 and 2020, yet elimination has remained a major public health challenge with persistent transmission foci and ongoing importation. There are three main hotspots of malaria transmission in Thailand: Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket in the Northeast; Tak in the West; and Yala in the South. However, the degree to which these hotspots are connected via travel and importation has not been well characterized. Here, we develop a metapopulation model parameterized by mobile phone call detail record data to estimate parasite flow among these regions. We show that parasite connectivity among these regions was limited, and that each of these provinces independently drove the malaria transmission in nearby provinces. Overall, our results suggest that due to the low probability of domestic importation between the transmission hotspots, control and elimination strategies can be considered separately for each region.