Malaria among seamen in Klaipeda during 1973-1998

The number of people from Klaipeda and surroundings who before 1990 were employed in the shipping and fishing industry was about 10,000. At that time, from 3,000 to 5,000 seafarers and fishermen travelled each year to malaria endemic countries of Africa, Asia and South America. Until 1973, malaria infections among seafarers in Lithuania occurred only sporadically, because ships based in Klaipeda very seldom sailed to ports in Africa. In the years 1973 - 1998, there were 113 cases of malaria registered in Klaipeda (P. falciparum 86, P. malarie 6, P.ovale 8, P. vivax 13). The diagnosis of 79 infections was confirmed by laboratory examinations in Klaipeda, and the remaining cases were confirmed by laboratory examination conducted in other places. Out of this number, there were 99 infections of seafarers and fishermen, and 14 infections were recorded in soldiers returning from Afghanistan. In 1979 - 1987, there were 4 fatal cases of malaria reported: 3 seafarers died in Cameroon, Angola and Byelarussia, and one died in Klaipeda. At present, each year only about 500 seafarers travel to malarious areas in the tropics. There is no local transmission of malaria in Lithuania.