Sequential Plasmodium Infections in Two Resident Families in Mangalore, India

Eleven members of two resident families in Mangalore city, Southwestern coastal India suffered from sequential malaria infections of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and mixed infections, despite using regular bed nets.Malarial symptoms of febrile illness started with chills and rigours in children at schools and adults at workplaces.Five members of the first family, residing in the central city, got infected with P. falciparum followed by P. vivax, while six members of the second family, located ~10 km away from the city, and initially suffered from P. vivax, followed by mixed infections and subsequently with P. falciparum.Both families reside nearer to the construction sites, indicating that construction activities foster vector mosquito breeding around houses resulting in indoor biting that leads to sustained malaria transmission.This study findings highlight the need for targeted vector control strategies that address closed malaria transmission, escaping bed net usage to counter malaria risk in the urbanized areas.Construction-related activities favour the suitable conditions in vector ecology and associated health risks.