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Malaria epidemics and surveillance systems in Canada
J Dick MacLean1, Anne-Marie Demers, Momar Ndao
1Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Centre for Tropical Diseases, Québec, Canada. dick.maclean@mcgill.ca
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|August 25, 2004
Summary
Canadian malaria cases unexpectedly surged in 1997-1998, unlike other nations. Improved surveillance is crucial for public health policy, especially with rising tropical immigrant populations.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Canada experienced significant fluctuations in imported malaria cases over the past decade.
- A notable doubling of malaria cases occurred in 1997-1998, an anomaly not observed in other industrialized nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and interpret the fluctuations in imported malaria cases in Canada.
- To highlight the need for enhanced surveillance to inform public health policy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a combination of local (sentinel), provincial, federal, and international malaria surveillance data.
- Analyzed epidemiological data to identify and describe malaria epidemics.
Main Results:
- Identified several distinct malaria epidemics within the analyzed period.
- Observed a significant, unexplained increase in malaria cases in Canada during 1997-1998.
Conclusions:
- Current Canadian federal malaria surveillance provides insufficient data for interpreting case fluctuations.
- Enhanced surveillance is essential for public health policy, particularly given the growing immigrant and refugee population from tropical regions.
- The Canadian experience offers insights applicable to other industrialized countries with passive malaria surveillance systems.