MALARIA
Wisconsin Division of Public Health Disease Surveillance Manual (EpiNet, February 2005)
I. IDENTIFICATION
A. CLINICAL DESCRIPTION: A parasitic infection caused by Plasmodiumvivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, or P. falciparum. The disease is characterized by fever, chills, headache, and sweating. Depending upon the species, acute illness may develop into a variety of syndromes with severe complications including coma and death. Malaria may also be transmitted transplacentally. The disease may recur over a period lasting up to 50 years.
B. REPORTING CRITERIA: Laboratory confirmation.
C. LABORATORY CRITERIA FOR CONFIRMATION:
- Demonstration of malaria parasites in blood films.
D. WISCONSIN CASE DEFINITION: Any person (symptomatic or asymptomatic) who has an episode of microscopically-confirmed malaria parasitemia that occurs in the U.S. , regardless of whether the person has experienced previous episodes of malaria while outside the country.
II. ACTIONS REQUIRED / PREVENTION MEASURESA. WISCONSIN DISEASE SURVEILLANCE CATEGORY II: Report to the patient's local health officer on an Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report (DPH 4151) or other means within 72 hours of the identification of a case or suspected case.
B. EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORTS REQUESTED:
1. Acute and Communicable Diseases Case Report (DPH 4151).
2. Malaria Case Surveillance Report (CDC 54.1) (Rev. 2002).
C. PREVENTION MEASURES:
- The parasite is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Non-immune travelers who will be exposed to mosquitoes in malarious areas should regularly use malaria suppressive drugs. Insect repellents regularly applied to the skin, as well as night spraying and bed nets are recommended. It is very important to continue taking all prescribed anti-malarial medication, even after returning to the U.S.
D. PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS:
- Blood donors should be questioned about history of malaria or malaria exposure. In the U.S. blood donors who have not taken anti-malarial drugs and remained free of symptoms may donate blood six months after return from endemic area. Persons who have been on anti-malarial prophylaxis should not donate blood for three years after cessation of chemoprophylaxis or treatment.
III. CONTACTS FOR CONSULTATIONA. BCDP / COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION: (608) 267-9009.
B. REGIONAL STAFF: See Epinet Introduction: “REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACTS”.
C. WSLH / PARASITOLOGY: (608) 263-3421.
IV. RELATED REFERENCES
1. “Malaria" DPH Disease Fact Sheet Series: View a list of all current Communicable Disease Fact Sheets
2. Heymann DL, ed. MALARIA. In: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 18 th ed. Washington , DC : American Public Health Association, 2004:324-340.
3. Malaria Surveillance - United States , 2001. MMWR 2003;(No.SS-5):1-16.
IV. DISEASE TRENDS
Species
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Total
Plasmodium sp.
1
4
2
1
1
9
P. vivax
4
4
4
9
4
25
P. ovale
1
1
1
0
1
4
P. malariae
0
4
1
0
1
6
P. falciparum
4
6
12
7
3
32
Total
10
19
20
17
10
76