Table 1 Examples of how spatial overlay of multiple malaria metrics related to different components of malaria risk can inform elimination planning for a given operational unit
From: Mapping multiple components of malaria risk for improved targeting of elimination interventions
Malaria risk component | Proxy mappable metric | Information for decision-making | Example operational implication |
|---|---|---|---|
Infection incidence | Annual parasite incidence | How much malaria is observed in the area? | Distribution of malaria drug demand; feasibility of implementing case-based surveillance |
Local infection incidence | Local case incidence | Is transmission happening in the region? | Need for transmission intensity-reducing measures |
Imported infections | Importation rate, human movement rate to endemic locations | Will new infections appear even if the local reservoir is drained? | Sustainability of aggressive reservoir reductions; need for importation-reducing measures |
Parasite reservoir | Infection prevalence | Are infections currently available to be transmitted? | Potential for drug-based interventions to reduce transmission intensity by draining the available reservoir |
Infection duration | Case treatment rate | How long will infections be available for mosquitoes to transmit? | Need for improved access to case management |
Entomological potential | Vectorial capacity | What is the probability that parasites in the human reservoir will be transmitted? | Need for context-appropriate vector control measures |
Transmission intensity | Entomological inoculation rate, ratio of local to imported cases | How much transmission is currently occurring? | Impact of currently implemented measures; need to examine specific risk components to identify appropriate additional measures |
Transmission potential | Reproductive rates | Will introduced parasites tend to propagate or die away? | Need for reductions in infection duration or entomological potential to create conditions suitable for elimination |