[The maintenance of malaria eradication in Reunion island (1979-1990)]

Malaria, which first occurred in Reunion in 1868, was eradicated from the island in 1979, as a result of eradication campaigns conducted since 1949. Reunion is now in a state of "anophelism without malaria". However, relations with nearby countries with a high malaria potential (Madagascar, Comoros) are responsible for a regular increase in the number of annual cases of imported malaria. This increase, associated with the appearance of chloroquine-resistance in the Indian Ocean area, illustrates the persisting risk of malaria re-appearance in La Réunion, and the need for maintaining a control programme. After describing the epidemiological situation and the ecology of Anopheles gambiae s.l. on the island, the authors give detail on the organisation of malaria control as adopted by the health services. Continuing eradication, which puts emphasis on antivector measures as Reunion is considered as an area with "unstable" malaria, implies an annual invest of US $3,350,000, of which 77% is exclusively used for vector control.