HANOI, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam annually reports some 30,000 malaria infections with over 100 malignant malaria cases and nearly 10 deaths, said the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology on Thursday.
Specifically, the plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of the malaria parasite, which has appeared in Vietnam's five central provinces of Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, is likely to spread to other nationwide localities.
There is high risk that malaria will easily return and break out into epidemic in many areas, Tran Thanh Duong, director of the institute said on Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA on Thursday.
This is because Vietnam is located in a tropical monsoon region where malaria and dengue transmitting mosquitoes are present in all 63 out of 63 localities nationwide, said Duong.
In addition, the country's state investment for combating malaria has plunged sharply in recent years. The anti-malaria funding mainly comes from non-refundable aid of international organizations, and budgets of localities, according to the official.
The institute will speed up efforts to eliminate malaria so that it will not be a burden to public health. At the same time, the work of scientific research and specialized training on malaria will be promoted, reported VNA.
