Malaria Situation in the Peruvian Amazon during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Katherine Torres, Freddy Alava, Veronica E. Soto-Calle, Alejandro Llanos‐Cuentas, Hugo Rodríguez, Lidia Llacsahuanga, Dionicia Gamboa, Joseph M. Vinetz
Abstract
The Peruvian Ministry of Health reports a near absence of malaria cases in the Amazon region during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections has overwhelmed the Peruvian health system, leading to national panic and closure of public medical facilities, casting doubt on how accurately malaria cases' numbers reflect reality. In the Amazon region of Loreto, where malaria cases are concentrated, COVID-19 has led to near-complete closure of the primary healthcare system, and diagnosis and treatment of acute febrile illnesses, including malaria, has plummeted. Here, we describe the potential association of COVID-19 with a markedly reduced number of reported malaria cases due to the reduced control activities carried out by the Peruvian Malaria Zero Program, which could lead to malaria resurgence and an excess of morbidity and mortality.