Аннотация
In the late 19th – early 20th century, the incidence of malaria increased in the Turkestan Krai, affecting people’s everyday life and health. In this connection Russian government and scientific community faced a challenge of fighting the spread of malaria in this region. Based on the analysis of archival documents deposited in the Russian State Military Historical Archive, articles published in the newspaper Turkestanskie vedomosti, and other publications by the researchers and clinicians, the article reviews the main reasons for the occurrence of malaria and the methods for malaria control in the Central Asia region. The spread of malaria is shown to have been associated with both the natural (including annual flooding and waterlogging) and man-made (development of irrigation systems and increased rice-growing areas) causes. The history of the discovery of the causative agent and carrier of malaria (Anopheles mosquito) and the methods used in the Turkestan Krai for controlling the latter (development of a particular regime of water supply to rice fields, using some fish species for mosquito larvae control, using pesticides and petrochemical products for the same purpose, etc.) is reviewed.