Malaria in Hong Kong and China

QUESTION

Is malaria a risk in Hong Kong and Southern China?

ANSWER

There is no reported malaria transmission in Hong Kong, nor in the provinces directly bordering it in southern China. However, there is some risk of malaria in other parts of southern and central China, notably in the provinces of Anhui, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, and Yunnan, though rare cases may also be observed in other rural parts of the country between December and May below <1,500 m (4,921 ft).

Epidemiology of Malaria

QUESTION:

Epidemology of malaria

ANSWER:

I’m afraid that without a bit more detail in the question, it is difficult to answer – there are many facets to the epidemiology of malaria, from the distribution of the disease globally to its prevalence in different age and risk groups among human populations. Human migration and movement can also play a large role in the epidemiology of malaria, as can mosquito vector behaviour and population dynamics.

Malaria is also known to vary widely based on climatic conditions, and there are concerns that climate change will affect what we know about the epidemiology of malaria, making it harder to control. There are also cases of cross-over between human forms of malaria and those from other primates, such as with Plasmodium knowlesi in macaques in south-east Asia. If you re-submit a more specific question, I’ll be happy to answer it more fully!