[The reemergence of malaria in Israel?]

Worldwide, malaria is the most prevalent vector-borne disease, endemic or hyperendemic in more than 100 countries. The disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium with a life cycle split between man (the vertebrate host) and the mosquito vector. Since the 1960s, Israel has been considered a malaria free country, despite a substantial number of imported cases each year (mainly P. falciparum originating in Africa and P. vivax). Between 60-100 imported malaria cases are registered annually due to young people traveling to endemic countries and immigration from sub-Saharan Africa. However, since successful malaria control was achieved without the elimination of local Anopheles populations, concern about the possibility of renewed malaria transmission in Israel is increasing. Among travelers to malaria endemic countries, the disease can usually be prevented with prophylactic use of antimalarial drugs and strict measures to prevent mosquito bites. If, on their return, travelers become ill, they should seek prompt medical attention and inform their physician which countries they have visited. For their part, physicians should not fail to elicit travel history as part of the routine fever workup. Finally, intensive surveillance and control of the mosquito populations is also imperative to diminish the risk of reestablishment of malaria transmission.