Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:00
A Multi-detection Assay for Malaria Transmitting Mosquitoes
Published on: February 28, 2015
Malaria surveillance - United States, 2008
Sonja Mali1, Stefanie Steele, Laurence Slutsker
1Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. smali@cdc.gov
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002)
|June 26, 2010
Summary
Malaria cases in the U.S. decreased in 2008, with most infections in travelers to West Africa. Many travelers did not use recommended malaria prevention drugs, highlighting the need for adherence to chemoprophylaxis and protective measures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and caused by Plasmodium parasites.
- Most U.S. malaria cases are imported by travelers, but local transmission can occur.
- Surveillance aims to track local transmission and inform traveler prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize malaria cases in the U.S. with symptom onset in 2008.
- To analyze trends in malaria cases and Plasmodium species over previous years.
Main Methods:
- Data collected through mandatory reporting systems including the National Malaria Surveillance System (NMSS) and National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
- Case investigations conducted by local and state health departments.
- Analysis of reported cases, including species identification, travel history, and chemoprophylaxis adherence.
Main Results:
- 1,298 malaria cases reported in the U.S. in 2008, a 13.8% decrease from 2007.
- Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species (40.6%).
- Travelers returning from West Africa had the highest estimated relative case rates; 71.7% of those who acquired malaria abroad did not follow recommended chemoprophylaxis.
Conclusions:
- A significant decrease in malaria cases was observed from 2007 to 2008.
- Adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis regimens among U.S. travelers remains a critical issue.
- Travelers to endemic areas should use chemoprophylaxis and personal protective measures to prevent malaria.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...