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Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2013
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002)
|March 4, 2016
Summary
Malaria cases in the U.S. increased in 2013, with inadequate prevention use by travelers. Drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains were identified, highlighting the need for better surveillance and prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, with most U.S. cases linked to travel, but local transmission and other routes occur.
- Malaria surveillance in the U.S. aims to detect local transmission and inform prevention for travelers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize malaria cases in the U.S. with symptom onset in 2013.
- To analyze trends in malaria cases and identify drug resistance markers.
Main Methods:
- Collected malaria case data through national surveillance systems (NMSS, NNDSS) and direct consultations.
- Conducted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and drug resistance marker testing on submitted blood samples.
Main Results:
- 1,727 malaria cases reported in 2013, a 2% increase from 2012. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species.
- Only 4% of U.S. civilians with known travel and chemoprophylaxis reported adherence to recommended drug regimens.
- 10 malaria-related deaths occurred in 2013, the highest since 2001. High rates of resistance to pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine were detected in P. falciparum.
Conclusions:
- Malaria cases in the U.S. show an increasing trend, with inadequate prevention among travelers, particularly those visiting friends or relatives (VFRs).
- Incomplete case reporting hinders trend analysis and prevention efforts.
- Molecular surveillance of drug resistance is crucial for guiding treatment and managing malaria domestically and globally.
