A retrospective study on imported malaria in Jordan. 2. Malaria among non-military Jordanians

Cases of imported malaria among civilian Jordanians returning from Asian and African countries from 1991-2011 are documented. A total of 511 cases of imported malaria were diagnosed among civilian Jordanians travelling abroad. Majority of cases were reported among adults over 21 year old accounting for or 87,67% of the total number of cases. Eighteen different categories of occupation were identified, where as students studying abroad showed the highest infection rate (33.2%), especially those returning from India (n=70). Infection among males was as high as 91.78%, compared to 8.22% in females. Females were mostly housewives accompanying their spouses. Cases were reported from 34 Asian and African countries.Most cases were reported among Jordanians returning from Pakistan (23.68%), Yemen (18.6%), India (18.4%) and Sudan (5.1%). The majority of infections were due to Plasmodium vivax (n=370, 72.4%), followed by Plasmodium falciparum (n=138, 27%). Only one case of Plasmodium malariae was observed. Few cases (n=3, 0.65%) of mixed infection with P. vivax and P. falciparum were reported. Sudan was the main source of P. falciparum (25.4%) followed by Yemen (20.3%), while Pakistan was the main source of P. vivax (28.9%) followed by India (22.7%). Most mixed infection cases were acquired in Sudan (66.7%).