MalariaIllegal mining in Colombia linked to malaria outbreak

Published 3 May 2016

The Colombian National Health Institute recorded 18,524 malaria cases in 2015. The year before, only 4,730 malaria cases were recorded. The sharp increase in the number of malaria cases in different areas of Colombia has been linked to illegal open-cast mining. Stagnant water and poor sanitary conditions have been discovered at these often hidden rural locations.

The sharp increase in the number of malaria cases in different areas of Colombia has been linked to illegal open-cast mining.

Stagnant water and poor sanitary conditions have been discovered at these often hidden rural locations.

The Business Recorder reports that the widespread illegal mining activity has previously been blamed for causing serious environmental damage, as well as keeping workers in slave-like conditions.

Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria told Telesur: “The country had more or less controlled its malaria problem…the death rate had dropped significantly.

But because of illegal mining…we’ve had hotspots since last year and especially this year.”

The Colombian National Health Institute recorded 18,524 malaria cases in 2015. The year before, only 4,730 malaria cases were recorded.

Gavira told RCN radio that the rise of malaria cases was most noticeable in the impoverished region of Choco, which is on the border with Panama.

The Health Institute said: “Population displacement linked to the exploitation of gold mines - and resulting deforestation - has previously created isolated epidemics of malaria.”

The Recorder notes that mining is a major source of revenue for Colombia. In 2012, the last year for which official figures are available, legal mining accounted for 2.3 percent of GDP, or $8.5 billion. But authorities say that more than half of Colombia’s mining sites are in fact illegal. In these illegal mines, which help finance illegal armed groups, “excavators dig huge holes where water accumulates, perfect breeding groups for malaria-carrying mosquitoes,” said University of Antioquia researcher Ivan Dario Velez.

Last year, some 214 million people suffered from malaria, of which 438,000 died from the disease, according the World Health Organization.