In Savannakhet of Laos and Quang Tri of Vietnam, most malaria cases are indeed found in their border areas that are mountainous, forested and populated with ethnic minority groups. Despite substantial control activities by the local governments, malaria is still an important health problem. The objective of this study was to have better understanding of the border malaria situation for further cross border collaboration between the two countries. Fourteen villages in Savannakhet and 22 villages in Quang Tri were representatively chosen within 5 km from the border where malaria blood survey (n = 1256 and n = 1803, respectively), interview survey with household heads (n = 400 both sides), entomological survey were conducted between August and September 2010. Data were analyzed and forest densities were computed in Research Institute for Humanity and Nature between 2011 May and August with the support of the Ecohealth Project. Malaria prevalence was significantly higher in Laos (5.2 %) than in Vietnam (1.8%) (p<0.001). P.vivax was predominantly found in Laos (50.8%), while in Vietnam P.faciparum was higher than any other species (54.5%). Bed net coverage was high on both Laos and Vietnam (99.7%, 2.3 persons/net and 92.9%, 2.6 persons/net, respectively). Anopheles mosquitoes were more abundant in Laos than in Vietnam (2.56/light trap/night in Laos and 1.25/light trap/night in Vietnam). Although Anopheles minimus was present in the both sides, An. dirus was only found in Laos. The forest density was higher in Laos than Vietnam. This study suggests that the presence of An.dirus, which is known to be the most efficient malaria vector, could lead to higher malaria prevalence in Laos where the higher forest density supports this vector in dominating. Vector and environmental differences need to be taken into account to make border the malaria control effectively.

Until very recently, it has been argued that food producing economies emerged in Gujarat with the introduction of Indus civilization in the Urban Phase. Recent discovery of early farming Chalcolithic communities from North Gujarat dated at least a thousand years earlier than the Urban Harappan have called this model into question. North Gujarat has also revealed long standing Mesolithic occupation dating back to 7100BCE. How and from where did the early farming communities arrive at food production? Did the stimulus for food production come from outside? Or was the process of farming an internal development derived from the resource management practices of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers? Hunter-gatherers generally tend to expand their food base through various adaptive strategies. This generally happens due to internal compulsions and environmental challenges. The question therefore is did any of the economic activities of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers eventually lead to the beginning of farming way of life in North Gujarat or not? We are investigating this issue through different research strategies involving archaeo-botanical, zooarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental studies which are discussed in the presentation.