ENVIRONMENT AND MALARIA IN THE BURUNDI

In March 1991, an unsual increase of the consultations for fever and/o r cephalgias was reported by the Health Centre of Muhanga. At the same time, the administrative authorities worried about the increase of de ath registration in some hills, located around the big swamp of Ruvubu , and next to this Health Centre. In this area, hypoendemic for malari a, the epidemic was belatedly recognized, entailing a gross death rate between 25.6 and 31.5 parts-per-thousand person/year in 1991, and the three most hit hill-areas whereas this rate is 18 parts-per-thousand person/year for the national level. The initiation of the epidemic was favoured by the set up of Anopheles funestus and gambiae because of t he modification of the hydro-agricultural milieu at high altitude, due to the extension of the ricefields and piscicultural ponds. Otherwise , there was a light rise of the medium temperature in this area in Mar ch 1991. In a non-immune population, the bouts of malaria were severe, especially in the age group from 0 to 4 years and in the pregnant wom en. By modifying the environment, the leaders of socio-economic develo pment programs must consider the consequences on the population's heal th and to make the health employees a partner in.