About 93 per cent of the total deaths caused by malaria are reported from the three Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) districts - Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
The information came out at a press briefing organised by Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday morning on the eve of the World Malaria Day 2018.
The day will be observed tomorrow with the theme 'Ready to Beat Malaria'.
Director General of Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad was the chief guest at the event. Director (disease control unit) of DGHS Prof Dr Sania Tahmina, Medical Officer of World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Mya Sapal and Programme Manager of NMCP Dr MM Aktaruzzaman were also present, among others.
Malaria is an endemic in 13 of 64 districts in Bangladesh. The prevalence of malaria in Bangladesh has decreased since the government has started the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in 2007.
Thirteen districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Sherpur and Kurigram -- are most malaria endemic districts in the country, reports BSS.
The CHT districts have perennial transmission throughout the year due to the geo-physical location, climate, and other favourable conditions for the vector species.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals. The disease is caused by parasitic protozoans belonging to the Plasmodium type.
Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, feeling tired, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms usually begin 10-15 days after mosquito bite.