Environmental change,development and vectorborne disease: Malaysia’s experience with filariasis,scrub typhus and dengue |
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Authors: | B H Kwa |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Global Health College of Public Health, University of South Florida, MDC 56 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, Fl 33612, USA |
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Abstract: | During Malaysia’s rapid economic development into becoming a middle income country in the past several decades, environmental
changes resulted in altered land use patterns because of agricultural practices such as large scale rice, rubber and oil palm
cultivation. The impact of environmental changes brought about by rice and rubber cultivation affected the breeding habitats
of mosquito vectors which in turn affected the prevalence of two strains of lymphatic filariasis in different ways. With scrub
typhus, the development of oil palm plantations affected the ecology of mite and rodent populations which resulted in very
high incidence of the disease in affected populations. Malaysia’s relentless urbanization has resulted in increased incidence
of dengue, as peridomestic mosquito vectors increasingly colonize urban habitats. This article discusses how ecological factors
determine the way lymphatic filariasis, scrub typhus and dengue were spread in Malaysia. The nation’s experience with environmental
changes due to rapid development provides lessons for other developing countries in control programs and public health policy. |
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Keywords: | dengue development ecological changes environment lymphatic filariasis malaria Malaysia vectorborne disease |
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