Potential Malaria Reemergence, Northeastern Thailand

entine leukocidin (PVL) toxin positive MRSA strains isolated from companion animals. Suspected transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between domestic pets and humans in veterinary clinics and in the household. Human carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus linked with a pet dog.lence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among staff and pets in a small animal referral hospital in the UK. To the Editor: The emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases are major problems for healthcare systems worldwide. Unfortunately, because accurate prediction of the occurrence of such diseases is difficult, if not impossible, surveillance and control can be carried out only after the outbreak has occurred. Predicting the likelihood of a disease outbreak should make it possible to start surveillance programs before outbreaks occur and to initiate control programs before the population has become seriously affected. We used data on changes in land use patterns to predict the likelihood of malaria reemergence in northeastern Thailand. Because natural rubber is of major economic importance and cannot be replaced by synthetic alternatives, the demand for and production of this commodity has consistently increased (1). This situation has led to changes in agricultural practices in various countries in Southeast Asia; rubber production has increased in Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam (1,2). Northeastern Thailand (Isaan) is a relatively poor area, and most rubber plantations belong to smallholders and provide them with a large source of income (3). In 1993, ≈284 km 2 of northeastern Thailand were covered by rubber plantations; this area increased to 422 km 2 in 1998 and to 948 km 2 by 2003 (3). Since then, planting has increased exponentially so that, by 2006, the total area planted with rubber was >2,463 km 2 ; new plantings expanded another ≈1,345 km 2 from 2004 to 2006 and increased to a total of 5,029 km 2 in 2007 (3). The plants mature ≈6 years after planting; at that stage, the trees can reach 10–12 m in height, although the growth rate depends on the physical and biotic environment (4). Deforestation in northeastern Thailand early in the last century led to an extreme reduction in the incidence of malaria (5) because the main vector mosquito in this area, Anopheles dirus sensu stricto, is forest dwelling and requires a shaded environment for its survival and reproduction (6). Currently , the northeastern part of the country is relatively free of autochthonous malaria cases except for 3 provinces that border …